Health Department

Food Protection

The Knox County Health Department’s Food Protection Division works to protect public health and prevent foodborne illness by regulating the production and sale of food in local facilities while educating the citizens of Knox County about good public health practices. Our program is designed to work in partnership with the people who make the day-to-day decisions that actually impact food safety:  the operators and employees of food service establishments.

The Knox County Health Department issues permits to operate food service establishments once they meet all the requirements of the State of Tennessee’s adoption of the 2009 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code. 

Continuing education on food safety is offered in several ways:

1. Each year, food service establishments receive unannounced routine inspections by Knox County Health Department environmental specialists. Routine health inspections address risk factors related to safe food handling practices. Environmental specialists discuss any recorded violations with operators and initiate corrective education regarding safe food practices.
2. The Knox County Health Department Environmental Health staff provides educational classes in restaurants, schools and hospitals. As a result of our success and participation with our online training course (http://www.knoxcounty.org/health/food_safety_training.php), we no longer instruct an in-person food safety class at the health department. If you would like to schedule an Environmentalist to teach a food safety course at your location, please contact us at 865-215-5200 to make your request.

There are 10 health inspectors who monitor approximately 2,498 food service establishments; 542 schools, daycares, and hotels; and 591 swimming pools and tattoo parlors. In 2021, they conducted 6,401 public health inspections, including more than 349 complaint investigations.

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Take our online food safety training (Tome nuestro entrenamiento en linea de la seguridad del alimento) (参加我们的在线食品安全培训)
• KCHD Food Safety Videos
• Take a tour of a mock food inspection & learn the 5 Risk Factors that can cause illness
• Search Restaurant Scores
• See a Sample Food Service Establishment Inspection Form 
• Conduct your own Food Inspection Audit Form
• Helpful fact sheets to post in your facility
• Plans Review Applications:
  • Aquatic Plan Review Application
  • Body Arts Studios
    • Body Arts Studio Plan Review Guidance
    • Body Arts Studio Plan Review Application
  • Food Service Establishments
    • Food Service Plan Review Guidance
    • Food Service Plan Review Application
  • Mobile Food Units
    • Mobile Food Unit Application Guidance
    • Mobile Food Unit Review Application
    • Commissary Form
  • Mobile Carts
    • Mobile Cart Guidance
    • Mobile Cart Review Application
    • Commissary Form
  • Temporary Events
    • The Temporary Food Establishment Documents (English | Español)

Need to submit a complaint? Contact us via email at environmental@knoxcounty.org or by phone at 865-215-5200 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.