Healthy Communities

Food Protection-Inspection Portal

picture of Chef at the marketClick here to access the Arkansas Food Inspection Portal.

Ensuring safe food is an important public health priority for our state. An estimated 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths are attributed to foodborne illness in the United States each year. The Department of Health is a participant in the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Program Standards for our Retail and Wholesale/Manufactured Foods Sections which lead to the adoption of the FDA Food Code. FDA Food Code adoption and implementation in all jurisdictions throughout the nation is important for achieving a uniform national food safety standard and for achieving the efficiency and effectiveness of our nation’s and state’s food safety system. 

The department regulates the sale of food for human consumption to address controls for risk factors and further establish 5 key public health interventions to protect consumer health. These interventions are: demonstration of knowledge by the person-in-charge of food preparation in food facilities, employee health controls, controlling hands as a vehicle for contamination, time and temperature parameters for controlling pathogens, and the consumer advisory.

We continue to take progressive steps to strengthen our state’s food safety for food manufacturers, warehouses and distributors, retail stores, institutions, schools, and other retail-level establishments statewide.

Resources
Arkansas Food Inspection Portal
Food Establishment Complaint and Feedback Form

Retail Food Establishments

Our Program consists of plan reviews, pre-opening inspections, permits, routine and follow-up inspections of food service establishments, investigation of complaints, and education of food service workers to promote safe food handling practices. We also recommend enforcement action based on recorded reports. Food service establishments include, but are not limited to, restaurants, bars, daycares, schools, grocery stores, convenience stores, bed and breakfast, hotels/motels, mobile units, concession stands and hospitals. 

Food Salvage Establishments

Our Program consists of plan review, pre-opening inspections, semi-annual routine inspections, and necessary follow-up inspections under FDA contract. We evaluate the condition of the product, general sanitation, and the source of the merchandise. Food Salvagers may have two different inspections: one for the retail portion of the operation and one for the wholesale salvage storage and refurbishing portion of the operation. 

Food Manufacturing Facilities

Wholesale/MFG Foods to conduct plan review, pre-opening inspections, annual routine inspections, and necessary follow-up inspections for food manufacturers/distributors in the state. We evaluate the condition of product, the equipment, the manufacturing process, hygienic practices, sanitation, and labeling of product.

Bottled Water

Our Program conducts plan review, pre-opening inspections, annual routine inspections, and necessary follow-up inspections. We also collect annual water sample for bacterial analysis to ensure safe water standards are met.

Resources
Foodborne Diseases
Food Safety Training for Food Handlers
Food Safety Myths
Restaurants & Grocers - Opening After a Power Outage
When To Save Food and When To Throw It Away
Posters
6 Steps of Handwashing
Employee Handwashing Report
Handwashing
Handwashing Procedure
How to Wash Your Hands
Ice Bath Calibration
No Bare Hand Contact
Stay Home When Sick 
Stop: 0-5 Years
Stop: 5-10 Years
The 3 Compartment Sink
Use Gloves
Training and Helpful Links
Hospitality Association
Food Safety
Retail Food Protection Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Handbook
Certified Food Managers Training Information Customer Support
1AAA Food Safety 714-592-4100
APS Culinary Dynamics (World Food Safety Organization)  
Certus/StateFoodSafety  
Learn2serve 877-881-2235
My Food Service License  
National Registry of Food Safety Professionals 800-446-0257
National Restaurant Association (ServSafe) 800-765-2122
Relish Works Inc. (Trust20)  
Responsible Training/Safeway Certifications 866-409-9190
The Always Food Safe Company 844-312-2011
*Other accredited Certified Food Manager courses may be found HERE.
Food Safety
FDA
Center for Disease Control
USDA
Conference for Food Protection
Partnership for Food Safety Education
Consumer Advisories: Current Recalls and Alerts
FDA
USDA 
Mercury and Fish
Guidelines
Homemade Food Production Guidelines
Farmer's Market Vendor Guide
Temporary Food Service Guidelines
Temporary Food Permit Application
Rules and Regulations
Bottling Drinking Water
Food Drug & Cosmetic Act
Food Service Establishments (effective 10.24.2022)
Good Manufacturing Practices
Handwashing in a Food Service Establishment
Office Address Phone Fax
Environmental Health 4815 W. Markham St., Slot 46
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
501-661-2171 501-661-2572


Current Food-Related Recalls & Alerts

Public Health Accrediation Board
Arkansas Department of Health
© 2017 Arkansas Department of Health. All Rights Reserved. www.healthy.arkansas.gov
4815 W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205-3867
1-800-462-0599