The Dawson County Sanitarian works with the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Food and Consumer Safety Section and by the authority granted to local boards of health pursuant to Title 50, Chapter 50, MCA. The purpose of the program is to prevent and eliminate conditions and practices that endanger public health in food service establishments in Dawson County. Food service establishments are required to be inspected twice a year. The exception is a modified program offered by the State, which requires one inspection per year of establishments that do not serve potentially hazardous foods, such as, bars that have no food service or coffee kiosks.

The definition of a “Food Service Establishment” means an operation defined in 50–50–102 (8), MCA and includes an operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends, or otherwise provides food for human consumption in a mobile, stationary, temporary, semi-permanent facility or location; where consumption is on or off the premises and regardless of whether there is a charge for the food. The food service rules can be found under Title 37, Chapter 110, Subchapter 2, ARM.

The areas of responsibility within the food service program are:

• Inspections of food service establishments and food manufacturers & all other categories
• Plan review of new and existing facility food service establishments
• Licensing of food service establishments (Link to Food & Consumer Safety Section)
• Non-profit organizations and Farmer’s Markets (Link to Non-Profit Temporary Food Service Book)
• Temporary Food Service Establishments
• Investigation of foodborne illness
• Consumer complaints
• Food Safety

Plan Review Guidelines for Food Service Establishments and Food Processing Facilities depicting the physical requirements needed to create an establishment are available through the web site.  

• Plan Review Guidelines for food establishments
• Plan Review and Application Guidelines for food processing facilities

A Plan Review Checklist and a Plan Review Application Document are required to be completed for new construction or extensive remodel of an existing facility.  

• Plan Review Checklist
• Manufacturing and Labeling Checklist

The licensing of food service establishments is a part of the contact with the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The License fee for a food service establishment is $60.00 a year. The license expires December 31 and is not pro-rated for the year. The license is non-transferable. A $25.00 late fee is charged for licenses not received before December 31.

• Application for retail food establishment license
• Application for temporary food establishment license
• Application for food manufacturer license
• 1-Stop Business Licensing

Non-Profit Organizations qualifying as tax-exempt organizations under 26 U. S. C. 501 are not required to be licensed, but are required to comply with The Food Service Establishment Rule, Title 37, Chapter 110 Subchapter 2, ARM.  

• Link to Non-Profit Temporary Food Service Book

Farmer’s Markets pursuant to 50–50–102 (5) means a farm premises, a roadside stand owned and operated by a farmer, or an organized market authorized by the appropriate municipal or county authority. A Farmer’s Market is exempt from licensure, but must comply with the requirements pursuant to 50–50–202 (3). Contact this office for further information @ 377-5772.

Mobile Units and Catering vary by their nature and many times require special conditions. Please contact the District Sanitarian at 377-5772 for the requirements for mobile units and caters.

The investigation of reported Foodborne Illness is a function of the District Sanitarian. If you believe you have contracted or have symptoms associated with a foodborne illness you should consult your physician or emergency room and contact the District Sanitarian at 377-5772.

A consumer complaint is generally a complaint regarding the quality of a packaged processed food discovered by a consumer. This office routinely investigates consumer complaints and may refer the complaint to the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Food and Consumer Safety Section, and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for further investigation and compliance. It is helpful to keep the container package and the contents, noting the time and the place the item was purchased. Consumer complaints may be reported to the District Sanitarian by calling 377-5772.