The Environmental Health Division of the City of Bethlehem Health Bureau is charged with regulating, licensing, and approving plans for all public eating and drinking establishments within the City limits. These duties entail the basic monitoring/ inspection of construction, setup and operation of any site in which food is offered to the public (regardless of if the food is offered free of cost). This includes, but is not limited to, restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, hospitals, churches, bars, daycares, nursing homes, and concession stands. The Department of Agriculture also assists with facilities that manufacture and transport food items to be offered or sold outside the City of Bethlehem limits.
Importance of Food Safety
Foodborne illnesses continue to take a staggering toll on public health. Foodborne illnesses (or foodborne diseases) are any illness that results from eating contaminated food.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each year roughly 1 out of 6 Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases. Learn what you can do as a consumer or food operator to keep food safe and lower the chance of food-related illnesses.
Food Safety at Home
Learn how to prevent foodborne illness.
Food Establishment Owners and Operators
Protect the public from foodborne illness.