The City of Baytown’s Environmental Health Department conducts inspections of all food service establishments in the city. These establishments include restaurants, grocery stores, mobile food units, school cafeterias, day-care center kitchens, hospital cafeterias, commercial food processors, and any place which prepares or sells food items. Inspections are unannounced and are conducted by Environmental Health Specialists - trained public health professionals with a college degree in science.

During routine inspections, Environmental Health Specialists spend most of their time evaluating food workers’ practices, including the manner in which they receive and store food, how they process food and the temperatures at which they cook, hold, serve, store and reheat food.

In addition, the Environmental Health Specialists conduct public swimming pool inspections and respond to citizen complaints regarding environmental issues such as sewage backup, swimming pool complaints, improper waste water discharges, and other issues that may have an impact on the environment and public health.