Cincinnati offers residents and visitors a host of ways to enjoy its renowned food scene that includes award-winning restaurants, popular food trucks, diverse retail food markets, and year-round, food-focused festivals and events.  

And while experiencing Cincy’s many culinary offerings, diners can be confident that food vendors within the City’s limits must meet strict licensing, inspection, and food safety requirements intended to help protect public health. 

Led by the Cincinnati Health Department's (CHD) Food Safety and Inspections team, the City’s ongoing efforts to promote safe food-handling practices include year-round inspections, training, and monitoring to help ensure food vendors follow the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code.  

CHD’s team works with food-service operations and retail food establishments throughout the City, including restaurants, mobile food units, and temporary food vendors who set up at festivals and events. 

"Food safety is one of the most important and visible public health services we provide," Cincinnati Health Commissioner Dr. Grant Mussman said. "Our inspectors work closely with food operators throughout the year to help maintain compliance with food-safety regulations and promote safe practices, which then help create enjoyable dining experiences for everyone who lives, works and visits Cincinnati." 

A Year-Round Commitment to Food Safety 

CHD's team of Registered Environmental Health Specialists conduct routine inspections designed to find and check food-handling conditions that can contribute to food contamination and foodborne illnesses.  

• During inspections, inspectors review a variety of food safety practices, including: 
• Employee hygiene and handwashing practices 
• Safe food temperatures and temperature control 
• Prevention of cross-contamination 
• Proper food storage and handling practices 
• Approved food sources 
• Cleaning and sanitizing of equipment and food-contact surfaces 
• Pest control and waste management 
• General facility sanitation and maintenance 

These inspections help ensure food vendors are following state and local food safety codes that help reduce the overall risk of food contamination and food-borne illnesses.  

Supporting Food Safety at Festivals and Special Events 

Cincinnati’s famous festivals and events draw hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors to the city core throughout the year, and CHD is involved from the start.  

CHD and the Food Safety and Inspection team work closely with event organizers and food vendors to help ensure food is prepared and served safely. 

Food trucks, temporary food vendors, and special-event food operations must secure licenses and pass inspection before serving food to the public. CHD also stays on-site at the largest events to continue inspections, monitor conditions, and respond to concerns for the duration of the event.  

Understanding Food Safety Across the Supply Chain 

The oversight provided by CHD and its Food Safety and Inspections team adds another layer of public health protection, but food safety relies on multiple layers of protection throughout the entire food supply chain, from farms and processors to distributors, vendors, regulators, and consumers. 

Health inspectors provide oversight once food products reach vendors. They evaluate food handling practices, and check approved food sources, employee hygiene, sanitation, produce storage and handling, and preventative cross-contamination measures.  

But certain contaminants typically cannot be detected during these inspections. Foodborne illnesses can – and do – originate from many sources and conditions, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, contaminated ingredients, environmental conditions, and other factors that occur much earlier in the food supply chain before it reaches vendors. 

With recent cases reported in 34 states as of July 20, 2026 – including more than 1,200 cases in Ohio since June 1 – the current Cyclospora outbreak is an example of how food safety extends beyond restaurants and food vendors, and beyond control of food safety and inspection teams.  

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite commonly associated with fresh produce. Contamination often occurs during growing, harvesting or processing – long before it’s bought by a grocery store, family, restaurant, or other vendor.  

Current Cyclospora-Related Food Recalls & Federal Cyclospora Guidance 

In the last few days, federal and state investigations have identified iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico as a suspected source of infection in cyclospora cases in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and West Virginia.  

The identified grower, Taylor Farms de Mexico, has voluntarily recalled its all of products nationally that contain this lettuce, including products produced and packaged for its own Taylor Farms brand label and many popular store-brand labels, and for food distributors and restaurants.  

The products were sold or distributed in 27 states – including Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana – and have a “Best if Used By” dates ranging from July 16 to August 3.  

• More information about specific products – including brands, product names, lot numbers, and use-by dates – is available on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website and its July 18 recall notice.  
• More information and more recall information – including impacted stores and states – is available in the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s July 17 recall notice, including a list of affected products and stores.  

Anyone who bought these items should throw them out and not eat them. Anyone who has eaten these products within the last 14 days should monitor their health and contact their doctors or the local health officials if cyclospora symptoms develop.  

It’s important to note that these products are a suspected source of the current outbreak but have not been confirmed as the – or only – source of infection. State and federal investigations continue and may result in other suspected sources of infection. Continued awareness is strongly recommended.  

How Residents Can Help Protect Their Health 

Simple preventative measures can help people reduce their risk of many foodborne illness and common sources of food contamination: 

• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption. 
• Practice good hand hygiene before preparing and eating food. 
• Refrigerate perishable foods promptly. 
• Follow safe food handling practices at home. 
• Stay informed about food recalls and public health alerts. 
• Discard food products that are the subject of recall notices or food safety advisories. 

Report Suspected Foodborne Illnesses Promptly 

Residents who believe they’ve become ill after consuming food from a restaurant, food truck, festival vendor, grocery store, or other food establishment within Cincinnati limits are encouraged to contact the Cincinnati Health Department as soon as possible.  

Residents with food safety concerns or questions can contact the Cincinnati Health Department's Food Safety and Inspections team at 513-564-1751 or visit the CHD website to submit a complaint. 

Common symptoms of foodborne illness may include: 

• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea 
• Abdominal cramping 
• Fever 

Prompt reporting helps public-health officials identify potential patterns, conduct investigations when appropriate, and take preventative actions that can help protect others from potential illness.  

"Early reporting is extremely important," Dr. Mussman said. "The sooner we learn of emerging health concerns, the faster public health officials can begin their evaluations and determine whether deeper investigations and follow-up action is needed. The quicker that process starts, the more people we can help protect.”  

Working Together to Keep Cincinnati Healthy ​

Most of CHD's food safety work happens behind the scenes, long before a meal reaches a customer's plate. 

"Whether you're dining at a restaurant, visiting a festival, or ordering from a food truck, there is a system of licensing, inspection, education, and oversight working behind the scenes every day to help protect public health,” Dr. Mussman said.  

As Cincinnati's vibrant food scene continues to grow, CHD is committed to helping food vendors meet food-safety requirements and helping to protect the health of Cincinnati residents and visitors alike.