Who is responsible for ensuring compliance with food safety laws?

The food establishment's management holds the primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with food safety laws. This is because management is tasked with developing and implementing food safety policies and training programs for their staff. They must ensure that the establishment adheres to all local, state, and federal food safety regulations, which include maintaining proper sanitation, handling food safely, and training employees on food safety practices.

While local health inspectors play a critical role in monitoring and enforcing compliance through inspections and assessments, it is ultimately the responsibility of management to create a culture of food safety within the establishment. Food handlers are important to the process as they are directly involved in the day-to-day operations, but they follow the protocols set by management. Customers do not have a responsibility in ensuring compliance; their role is to make informed choices based on the food safety practices they observe in an establishment.