Food Protection Section – Concord, NH

NH DHHS – Food Protection Section

Ensuring Safe Food from Farm to Fork

The Food Protection Section, operating under the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is the primary state authority responsible for the safety and security of the food supply. Located at the Hazen Drive state office complex, this division establishes and enforces standards for the sanitary production, processing, and distribution of food. While some municipalities (like Concord and Manchester) have their own self-inspecting health departments for local retail, this state office directly licenses and inspects establishments in towns without local health officers, as well as all wholesale and manufacturing operations statewide.

• Licensing and Permitting: The section issues licenses for a wide range of food businesses, including restaurants, grocery stores, food processors, dairy farms, bottling plants, and shellfish dealers.
• Inspections and Compliance: Environmental Health Specialists conduct routine sanitary inspections to ensure compliance with state food codes. They also perform specialized inspections for dairy plants and shellfish harvesters.
• Illness Investigation: The team collaborates with the Communicable Disease Control section to investigate outbreaks of foodborne illnesses and complaints regarding food tampering or sanitation issues.
• Specialized Programs: Includes the regulation of homestead food operations (cottage foods) and the monitoring of bottled water and beverage manufacturing.

Office Access

The Food Protection office is located at 29 Hazen Drive. Visitors to this facility are typically there to drop off applications, water samples, or meet with program administrators. As this is a secure state facility housing public health labs, visitors must undergo security screening and present valid identification upon entry. Most licensing transactions, including renewals, can now be completed through the department’s online portal.