Food Safety Awards

Each year, Lewis and Clark Public Health recognizes local food establishments that make exceptional efforts to make, serve, and sell safe food to the public.

The awards are based on the results of unannounced annual inspections conducted in the previous year. These inspections are required by law and conducted by environmental health specialists with the public health department.

To win a Gold Fork Award, a food establishment must have a documented food-safety system. This includes having:

  • On-site managers who demonstrate knowledge of food safety and take corrective action when necessary;
  • Food-safety training for all staff;
  • Procedures to maintain safe food temperatures; and
  • Employee health policies.

To win a Silver Fork Award, an establishment must demonstrate elements of at least three of these four components of an effective food-safety system.

The public health department began the annual award tradition in 2011. To be eligible, a food establishment must offer sit-down dining and have been open for at least a year.

For more information, contact the public health department at 406-457-8900 or publichealth@lccountymt.gov.

Most Recent Gold and Silver Fork Award Winners

These establishments received their awards in March 2019, based on inspections conducted by public health sanitarians in 2018.

Gold Fork winners

Gold Fork Award Winners

(* indicates first-time winner)

  • Augusta Public Schools
  • Burger King (on North Sanders)
  • Café 406*
  • Capital High School Cafeteria
  • Capital High Sodexo
  • Costco
  • C.R. Anderson Middle School Cafeteria
  • East Valley Middle School Cafeteria
  • Eastgate School Cafeteria
  • Four Georgians School Cafeteria
  • Hawthorne School Cafeteria
  • Helena Dinner Club (at Neighborhood Center)
  • Helena Middle School Cafeteria
  • Kessler School Cafeteria
  • Lincoln School Cafeteria
  • McDonald’s (both locations)
  • Radley School Cafeteria
  • Ray Bjork Cafeteria
  • Rossiter School Cafeteria
  • Warren School Cafeteria
  • Wendy’s

Silver Fork Award Winners

(* indicates first-time winner)

  • Apple-Rehab Cooney Nursing Home
  • Applebee's Neighborhood Grill
  • Bad Betty's Barbecue*
  • Benny's Bistro*
  • Big Sky Care Center*
  • Broadwater School Cafeteria
  • Bryant School Cafeteria
  • Burger King (2820 Prospect Ave.)
  • C Bar N Mission, Augusta
  • Carroll College Food Service
  • Central-Linc. School
  • Dairy Queen Grill & Chill (1700 Prospect Ave.)
  • Fireside Coffee*
  • Hardee’s (both locations)
  • Helena High School Cafeteria
  • La Pa Grill*
  • Lewis and Clark Tap Room*
  • Lincoln Dinner Club, Lincoln
  • Lincoln Pit Stop, Lincoln
  • Lincoln School District 38
  • Lucca’s
  • Masonic Home of Montana
  • Moose Junction
  • No Sweat Cafe
  • Panda Express
  • Qdoba Mexican Grill
  • Real Food Store & Deli
  • Scenic Brew*
  • Shodair Residential Treatment Center
  • Smith School Cafeteria
  • Starbucks (1300 Prospect Ave.)
  • Taco del Sol
  • Taco John’s
  • Taqueria El Vaquero
  • Touchmark Senior Living
  • Windbag Saloon*
  • Wolf Creek School Lunch Program

Silver fork winners

Back to top