Office of Food Protection

School Food Safety Inspections

School inspection results are now available online. Click here to view school inspection report findings. Click here to view a blank copy of the inspection form used by Rhode Island inspectors and third party auditors. The inspection report is based on the form recommended by the Conference for Food Protection (CFP). Click here to view the marking instructuctions for the CFP inspection form.

The Federal Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires all schools participating in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program to obtain at least two food safety inspections per year. Additionally, schools are required to post on site the most recent inspection report and provide copies of reports to the general public upon request. Schools must also develop, maintain, and follow a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan to control potential food hazards.

The Office of Food Protection at the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) is assisting schools in meeting the requirements of this new federal mandate. HEALTH has established criteria for approving third-party auditing firms to conduct inspections and will maintain a list of approved vendors. Schools may only hire these approved vendors to perform the required biannual inspections. HEALTH is committed to continuously monitoring the work of third-party auditors to ensure that high quality audits are conducted in compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations. All school audits will be submitted to HEALTH within 24 hours after completion and imminent hazards to health will be reported immediately.

Additional information regarding these requirements can be found in the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety Questions and Answers. For assistance in developing HACCP plans, refer to USDA's Guidance for School Food Authorities: Developing a School Food Safety Program Based on the Process Approach to HACCP Principles.