What is the role of state and local health departments?

The role of state and local health departments is crucial in ensuring public health and safety, particularly in the food service industry. They are responsible for writing codes that establish the standards for food safety and hygiene practices that operations must adhere to. These agencies also carry out inspections of retail and food service establishments to ensure compliance with these regulations. Their oversight helps to identify potential health hazards and enforce necessary corrections to protect consumers.

The other options do not encompass the primary function of health departments. Conducting cooking classes, while beneficial for education, does not relate directly to the regulatory responsibilities of health departments. Creating marketing campaigns for food safety may assist in promoting best practices but is not a core function. Monitoring agricultural products may occur, but the health departments' mandates extend far beyond that, focusing on food service operations and public health regulations instead.