St. Mary’s County Health Department inspects restaurants and other food service facilities routinely to ensure food safety standards are being met. Inspectors closely evaluate critical food safety measures which are most likely to contribute to food-borne illness. SMCHD awards Gold Star recognition to businesses who have maintained excellent food safety standards based on the outcomes of routine inspections. A ceremony is held for recipients and the list of establishments is posted annually in the spring, following the monitoring year.
2023 Gold Star Recipient List
Gold Star Requirements
- No critical violations (based on Maryland regulations)
- No temperature violations cited during a monitoring inspection
- All violations noted by an inspector must be corrected by a 30-day follow-up inspection
- No confirmed unsafe food handling complaints
- At least one food service worker completed a recognized and approved Food Safety Class within the last two years
Posters for Food Service Facilities
- Food Allergies [Required Posting]
- Hand Washing [English & Español]
- Choking Response American Red Cross