Food Safety
Food Establishment Grading
Lincoln County Environmental Health has implemented a retail food establishment grading system based on annual inspection results. We issue a grade(“A+” to” C-“) to each food establishment based on their annual inspection. The food establishment is required to post the grade where it is visible to the public.
Retail Food Establishment Grading Policy
During the inspection and grading process all Retail Food Establishments are assigned a Risk Factor in accordance with the Administrative Rules of Montana. The following document provides a description of the Risk Factors
Retail Food Establishment Grades
Food Recalls and Food Safety
Information about food recalls and food safety can be found at the following websites.
FoodSafety.gov
CDC Food Safety Website
USDA Food Safety Site
Retail Food Establishments
Montana state law requires that all food establishments meet the required state and federal regulations and are licensed by the State. This means that all restaurants, coffee kiosks, grocery and convenience stores, delicatessens, caterers, and mobile trucks must be approved, licensed and inspected.
In 2015 Montana adopted the Federal Food and Drug Administration’s regulations for Montana. These regulations can be found at: FDA
There are additional regulations specific to Montana, and they can be found in the Rules for Retail Food Establishments
Applications for retail food establishments are available at: Lincoln County Environmental Health, 418 Mineral Ave, Libby, MT 59923
We encourage people wanting to start a food business to contact our office early in the process, so that you get off on the right foot and save money and delays. We have a packet available to help people plan and address the necessary steps in starting a food business.
There is more information available on the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Food and Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Environmental Health and Food Safety Website
LICENSED FOOD CATERERS IN LINCOLN COUNTY
Below is a list of Food Caterers currenty licensed to operate in Lincoln County:
Boar’s Den – Libby
Burger Express – Libby
Cabinet Mountain Catering – Libby
Cafe Jax – Eureka
Fahland Catering – Libby
Fire and Slice – Eureka
Happy’s Inn – Libby
North Point Bar & Grill – Eureka
On the Fly Cafe and Espresso – Eureka
Smoking Gun BBQ – Libby
Susy’s Catering – Rexford
Switchback Bar and Grill – Libby
The Gracious Table – Libby
The Shed – Libby
Tiffany’s – Libby
VFW Post 1548 – Libby
TEMPORARY FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS (TFE)
Lincoln County requires that temporary food establishments(TFE) obtain and display a permit to operate. This permit can be obtained through our office. A temporary food establishment is defined as a retail food establishment that (a) operates at a fixed location for no more than 21 days in conjunction with a single event or celebration; or( b) uses a fixed menu and operates within a single county at a recurring event or celebration for no more than 45 days. Examples of definition (a) are Logger Days and the Lincoln County Fair. Examples of definition (b) are the local farmers markets. All TFE permits require a plan review before the permit will be issued. In order to complete a successful plan review, you need to know what we require, and these requirements are contained in the guidelines. The documents are listed below and can be downloaded.
Temorary Food Establishment Guidelines
Temorary Food Establishment Plan Review
Temorary Food Establishment Application
NON-PROFIT TEMPORARY FOOD STANDS
If you are a non-profit organization planning on operating a food stand for a single event, you may be exempt from licensing by providing us proof of your 501(c)(3) status. However, you will still need to get and display a non-profit temporary food permit for the event. The non-profit temporary food permit is available for download below.
Non-Profit Food Permit Application (PDF)
Lincoln County requires that temporary food establishments(TFE) obtain and display a permit to operate. This permit can be obtained through our office. A temporary food establishment is defined as a retail food establishment that (a) operates at a fixed location for no more than 21 days in conjunction with a single event or celebration; or( b) uses a fixed menu and operates within a single county at a recurring event or celebration for no more than 45 days. Examples of definition (a) are Logger Days and the Lincoln County Fair. Examples of definition (b) are the local farmers markets. All TFE permits require a plan review before the permit will be issued. In order to complete a successful plan review, you need to know what we require, and these requirements are contained in the guidelines. The documents are listed below and can be downloaded.