LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The St. Mary’s County Health Department recognized 95 food service facilities with the 2024 Gold Star Awards for outstanding food safety practices during a ceremony on April 7, 2025, in Leonardtown. Announced on April 8, the awards celebrate establishments that met rigorous standards in sanitation and public health, with representatives from the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce and county government joining to commend the recipients.
The Gold Star Program, launched in 2007, highlights food businesses excelling in safety and cleanliness. In 2024, Environmental Health Specialists conducted approximately 1,200 inspections across more than 550 facilities in St. Mary’s County. The annual evaluations assess compliance with strict criteria, ensuring public health protection.
To earn a Gold Star, facilities must meet several requirements: no critical violations under COMAR 10.15.03, no temperature violations during monitoring, correction of all noted issues within 30 days, no confirmed complaints of unsafe food handling or food-borne illness, and at least one staff member completing an approved “Food Service Sanitation and Safety Class” within two years. These standards aim to prevent food-related health risks.
Dr. Meena Brewster, St. Mary’s County Health Officer, praised the recipients’ efforts. “Thank you to our 2024 Gold Star recipients for their hard work and dedication in preventing food-borne illness in St. Mary’s County,” she said. “We are proud to recognize these organizations for achieving such high standards and for their attention to food safety, sanitation, and public health.”
The awards reflect a year-long commitment by the health department’s Environmental Health Division, which conducts unannounced inspections to uphold safety. The program’s history, detailed on the county’s website (smchd.org/gold-star), shows a consistent focus on reducing food-borne illness, a national concern tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which estimates 48 million cases annually in the U.S.
The April 7 event brought together local leaders and awardees, emphasizing community collaboration. The full list of 2024 winners, spanning restaurants, caterers, and other food services, is available at smchd.org/gold-star, offering transparency and encouraging public support for these establishments.
Since 2007, the Gold Star Program has grown as a benchmark for excellence, with the 95 recipients in 2024 marking one of the largest groups honored. The initiative not only rewards compliance but also educates businesses, as the required training ensures staff stay current on best practices.
For St. Mary’s County, the awards underscore a broader mission. Regular inspections—over twice the number of facilities annually—demonstrate the health department’s proactive stance. The Gold Star criteria, rooted in state regulations and local enforcement, set a high bar that benefits both businesses and residents.
