Our Data Sources
Transparency is core to our mission. All restaurant inspection data on CleanKitchens is sourced directly from official government health departments.
🔍 100% Official Data: We never alter inspection results or scores. All data comes directly from government sources.
How We Collect Data
CleanKitchens collects restaurant health inspection data through several official channels:
- Public Records APIs: We connect directly to health department APIs for real-time data access.
- Open Data Portals: We access municipal open data portals that publish inspection results.
- CSV Downloads: For jurisdictions without APIs, we process official CSV data files.
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests: We file formal requests for data under public records laws when necessary.
Local Health Department Data Sources
We collect inspection data directly from the following official government sources:
Chicago, IL
- Health Department: Chicago Department of Public Health
- Data Portal: Chicago Data Portal
- Inspector Agency: Chicago Department of Public Health - Inspection Program
- Update Frequency: Daily via API
- Coverage: All licensed food establishments in Cook County
San Francisco, CA
- Health Department: San Francisco Department of Public Health
- Data Portal: DataSF
- Inspector Agency: San Francisco Department of Public Health - Inspection Program
- Update Frequency: Daily via API
- Coverage: All licensed food establishments in San Francisco County
Nyc, NY
- Health Department: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Data Portal: NYC Open Data
- Inspector Agency: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Inspection Program
- Update Frequency: Daily via API
- Coverage: All licensed food establishments in New York County
📊 Data Volume: We process over 295,000+ historical inspection records and add new inspections daily as they become available from official sources.
Federal Data Sources & Guidelines
Our articles reference and link to authoritative federal food safety resources:
FDA - Food and Drug Administration
- Resource: FDA Food Code & Retail Food Protection
- Purpose: National food safety standards and model regulations
- Updates: Food Code updated every 4 years (current: 2022)
CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Resource: CDC Food Safety Portal
- Purpose: Foodborne illness surveillance and outbreak data
- Key Data: 48 million Americans get sick from foodborne diseases annually
USDA - United States Department of Agriculture
- Resource: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
- Purpose: Meat, poultry, and egg product safety standards
- Coverage: Federal inspection of meat and poultry processing
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
- Resource: EPA Pesticides and Food Safety
- Purpose: Pesticide residue limits and water quality standards
- Relevance: Produce washing and water safety requirements
Data Update Schedule
| Data Type | Update Frequency | Typical Delay |
|---|---|---|
| API-Connected Cities | Daily | 24-48 hours |
| CSV Downloads | Weekly | 3-7 days |
| FOIA Requests | Monthly | 30-45 days |
Understanding Our Data
Violation Categories
Different health departments categorize violations differently. Common categories include:
- Critical Violations: Directly related to factors that lead to foodborne illness
- Non-Critical Violations: General sanitation and operational issues
- Core Violations: Basic food safety requirements
Inspection Types
- Routine: Regular scheduled inspections
- Complaint: Triggered by customer complaints
- Re-inspection: Follow-up after violations found
- Pre-operational: Before opening or ownership change
Data Processing & Quality
Our Process
- Collection: Automated import from official sources
- Validation: Check for data completeness and accuracy
- Deduplication: Remove duplicate records
- Standardization: Normalize data formats across jurisdictions
- Vectorization: Create semantic search capabilities
- Publishing: Generate educational articles with context
Quality Assurance
We maintain data quality through:
- Automated validation checks during import
- Duplicate detection algorithms
- Regular audits against source data
- User feedback and correction mechanisms
Data Limitations
Important Limitations to Understand:
- Reporting Delays: There can be delays between inspections and public reporting
- Jurisdictional Differences: Different cities use different scoring systems
- Follow-up Gaps: Re-inspections may not immediately appear
- Historical Data: Older records may have less detail
Educational Use of Data
CleanKitchens transforms raw inspection data into educational content that helps consumers understand food safety principles. Each article includes:
- Context about why violations matter
- Links to FDA, CDC, and USDA guidelines
- Practical food safety tips for home use
- FAQs to answer common questions
Contact for Data Questions
For questions about our data sources, corrections, or to suggest new jurisdictions to cover, please contact us at data@cleankitchens.com
Legal & Compliance
All data is obtained through legal public records channels. We comply with all applicable laws including:
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
- State public records laws
- Municipal open data policies
- Terms of use for public APIs
✅ Our Commitment: We are committed to providing accurate, timely, and educational information
about restaurant health inspections to help consumers make informed dining decisions.