New Mexico Environment Department Food Program Home Page

The New Mexico Environment Department Food Program exists to protect employees, consumers, and the general public from adverse health and safety conditions, such as foodborne illness, in public food establishments throughout our state. The Program consists of trained Environmental Specialists that conduct food inspections, Food Specialists that provide additional technical expertise, and a Program Manager.

Click here to contact NMED staff working in the Food Program. The Food Program Manager is Steve Zappe, who may be reached at (505) 476-9102 or by e-mail.

News & Updates

May 6 , 2013 - Nestlé USA Announces Voluntary Recall of Select Varieties/Production Codes of California Pizza Kitchen® and DiGiorno® Frozen Pizzas (read NMED Recall Notice )

April 23 , 2013 - Louisiana Firm Recalls Cooked Meat, Poultry, and Deli Products Due To Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination (read NMED Recall Notice )

April 1 , 2013 - Rich Products Corporation Announces a Voluntary Recall of Farm Rich Products (read NMED Recall Notice )

February 14, 2013 - Taylor Farms Retail Initiates a Voluntary Recall of Select Organic Baby Spinach Products (read NMED Recall Notice )

January 30, 2013 - Whole Foods Market Expanded Recall Whole Catch Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Because of Possible Health Risk from Listeria (read NMED Recall Notice )

January 25, 2013 - Specific Lots Of Hunt's Tomato Sauce Recalled For Can Defect (read NMED Recall Notice )

January 24, 2013 - Annie's Voluntarily Recalls Annie's Homegrown Frozen Pizza Products (read NMED Recall Notice )

January 9, 2013 - Recall of ShurFine® Brand "Creamery Select Premium Ice Cream Dulce de Leche" 1.75 Quarts Ice Cream (read NMED Recall Notice )

January 4, 2013 - Sam’s Club Recalls Smoked Salmon for Listeria Potential (read NMED Recall Notice )

November 20, 2012 - Tri-Union Seafoods Issues Voluntary Recall On Select 7-ounce Chicken Of The Sea Solid White Albacore Tuna In Water (read NMED Recall Notice )

November 13, 2012 - Frito-Lay Issues Voluntary Recall of GRANDMA'S Peanut Butter Sandwich Crème Cookies and GRANDMA's Peanut Butter Mini Sandwich Crème Cookies Due to Undeclared Milk and Egg (read NMED Recall Notice )

November 9, 2012 - Nestlé USA Announces Voluntary Recall of NESQUIK® Chocolate Powder (read NMED Recall Notice )

November 7, 2012 - Select Containers of Kroger Deluxe French Vanilla Ice Cream Recalled for Undeclared Allergen (read NMED Recall Notice )

For a list of NM Food Recall Notices - click here

Individuals wanting to operate a home-based food processing operation must first obtain a permit from NMED before offering their food products to the public. To find out more information click on Home-Based Food Processing

The Food Program conducts the following activities:

Enforcement

Enforcing the current New Mexico Food Service and Processing Regulations by conducting thorough establishment “health inspections” at least once per year and investigating complaints.
Training

Providing free training on a periodic basis. Training modules range from basic food safety practices to detailed Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) implementation. We also conduct the required food safety training for Home Based Food Processor Licensing. Contact your district food safety specialist for the schedule.
Outreach

Conducting public outreach events to help raise food safety awareness among the public.
Review

Reviewing operational and construction plans for retail food establishments and food processing operations. New and remodeled retail operations are reviewed by our Environmental Specialists and food processing operations are reviewed by our Food Specialists. The review process helps ensure that facilities and equipment are constructed and organized in such a way to foster safe food preparation/production.
Response

Responding to foodborne illness complaints and outbreaks. In the case of an outbreak, our staff works diligently to determine the source of the illness and takes appropriate steps to eliminate immediate causes and prevent such problems from arising in the future.