The Retail Food Program conducts periodic inspections of retail food establishments throughout the state. A retail food establishment is an operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends, or otherwise provides food and beverages for human consumption. The food is sold directly to the consumer or indirectly through a delivery service. Some examples of retail food establishments include, but are not limited to:
- Grocery stores
- Convenience stores
- Bakeries
- Mobile food units
- Wineries
- Taprooms
- Vending machines
- Farmers Markets
Retail Food Inspectors work with the regulated industry to verify compliance with food safety rules and laws. Inspectors may also collect food, water, or environmental samples as part of ongoing surveillance or as part of evidence.
The MDA Retail Food Program collaborates with multiple partners across the state and nation. The MDA delegates it's authority to license and inspect regulated facilities to seven agencies within the state including certain counties and cities which enforce the same food laws and regulations as the MDA. In addition, the MDA also partners with agencies such as the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Each year, the Retail Food Program also conducts Country of Origin Labeling reviews through a contract with the United States Department of Agriculture. Through these combined efforts we can respond to food safety emergencies such as food-borne illness outbreaks and natural disasters.
Within the MDA, Retail Food Inspectors work closely with Plan Review Officers to review facility plans before new retail food establishments are constructed or remodeled. The facility plans that are reviewed include the facility layout, proposed menu, and intended equipment to be used. The Food and Feed Safety Division (FFSD) Compliance Officers assist Retail Food Inspectors in gaining compliance with food safety regulations and take enforcement actions as necessary. Retail Food Inspectors also work closely with FFSD licensing staff to answer numerous licensing questions and process license applications and renewals. Some food facilities are inspected by multiple inspection programs within the MDA such as the Manufactured Food Program and the Meat Inspection Program.
The Retail Food Program is enrolled in the Food and Drug Administration's Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards and works to meet all nine elements of the standards. These standards define what constitutes a highly effective and responsive regulatory program and provide a system upon which the MDA can build a continuous improvement process. This allows the Retail Food Program to focus on the reduction of risk factors known to cause or contribute to food-borne illness and promote active managerial control of these risk factors in retail facilities.
Delegated Agencies
Within the state there are seven cities and counties to which the MDA delegates its authority. Within these jurisdictions the local agency is responsible for licensing, plan review, and enforcement of the Minnesota Food Code and other applicable regulations as it relates to retail food sales.
| Agency | Address | Phone | MDA Liaison |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Bloomington | Environmental Health Division City of Bloomington 1800 West Old Shakopee Road Bloomington, MN 55431 |
952-563-8934 | Adam Lewis, Adam.Lewis@state.mn.us |
| City of Brooklyn Park | Code of Enforcement and Public Health Division 5200 85th Avenue North Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 |
763-493-8070 | Doris Ruley Doris.Ruley@state.mn.us |
| Hennepin County (except Crystal, Golden Valley, and St. Louis Park |
Epidemiology and Environmental Health 1011 South First Street Suite 215 Hopkins, MN 55343 |
612-543-5200 | Cara Pederson Cara.Pederson@state.mn.us |
| City of Minneapolis | Minneapolis Environmental Health Public Service Center 250 South Fourth Street Room 414 Minneapolis, MN 55414 |
612-673-3000 | Greg Koshiol Greg.Koshiol@state.mn.us |
| City of Minnetonka | City of Minnetonka Health Division 14600 Minnetonka Boulevard Minnetonka, MN 55345 |
952-939-8200 | Adam Lewis Adam.lewis@state.mn.us |
| Ramsey County (except Maplewood, New Brighton, and City of St. Paul) |
Environmental Health Section St. Paul-Ramsey County Department of Public Health 2785 White Bear Avenue, Suite 350 Maplewood, MN 55109 |
651-266-1199 | Raymond Starin Raymond.Starin@state.mn.us |
| City of Saint Cloud | Health Inspections Department 400 Second Street South St. Cloud, MN 56301 |
320-255-7214 | Holly Blais Holly.Blais@state.mn.us |
Minnesota Department of Health
Retail Food Establishments are licensed by different regulatory authorities in Minnesota based on the type and predominance of business. Predominance of business means that a majority (51% or more) of the gross annual food sales comes from that type of food or activity. If you want a license for an operation that is a primary food service, such as a restaurant, then you need a license from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Go to the MDH Licensing Jurisdiction page for more information.