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Temporary Food Facility Requirements  
 
Summary: Learn what's required for temporary and special event food sales at UCSD.

Student groups and departments may operate a temporary food facility for a maximum of 10 days per quarter, with no more than 30 days per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).

Requirements below apply to food that will be sold or given away to the public at temporary food facilities. Internal office potlucks and invitation only events are excluded.

What to do How to do it
Apply for a temporary food facility permit.
  • If you are a student: Apply at least 3 weeks in advance through the Triton Activities Planner.
  • If you're not a student: Apply at least 5 working days in advance of your event.
    • Print a permit application (PDF).
    • Send the completed application form to Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S):
      Mail Code: 0920
      Fax: (858) 822-3194
      E-mail: Jeff Eisert
  • Post the permit on your food service facility during operation.
  • Follow the requirements for safe food handling on this page.

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Follow these requirements for obtaining, preparing, and storing food.
  • Do not prepare or store food at home, with the exception of individually wrapped non-perishable baked goods.
  • Obtain all other food from an approved vendor operating under the license and inspection of the local public health department. Suitable vendors include:
    • Retail grocery stores
    • Wholesale suppliers
    • Commercial restaurants, delicatessans, or caterers
  • Prepare and cook all extensive foods in the International Center kitchen or other approved facility prior to transport to the site.
    • Extensive food preparation at the booth site is prohibited.
    • Limited food preparation actions, such as slicing, grilling, cooking, simple assembling and serving are permitted.
  • Control temperatures if you're serving potentially hazardous foods. Foods containing high-protein ingredients (beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, cheese, tofu, rice, beans, potatoes, etc.) support bacterial growth and can cause food borne illnesses.
    • Plan to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold as follows:
      • Cold hold all readily perishable foods in an ice chest or refrigerator at a temperature of 41°F or below until served.
      • Hot hold all hot foods at a temperature above 135°F from the time of preparation until served.
      • Important: Serve hot foods transported at less than 135°F within 30 minutes of delivery.
  • Select premixed, prewrapped products:
    • Beverages: Serve only premixed, unopened canned or bottled beverages. Do not provide ice for the beverages.
    • Condiments: Provide condiments in squeeze bottle-type containers or individual self-service packages.
    • Utensils: Use only disposable eating and drinking utensils maintained in a sanitary condition at all times.

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Plan the location and configuration of your facility to meet these requirements.
  • Select a location within 200 feet of toilet and handwashing facilities available to booth employees.
    • Student groups are encouraged to work with the International Center to take advantage of its institutional food preparation and storage area.
  • Plan a fire safety layout similar to this configuration:

    Suggested food service layout


  • Place adequate trash containers near your facility.

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Set up a handwash station. If you plan to cook or grill foods at your booth, a handwash station is required. This includes grilling meats, cooking rice, or cooking hot dogs.

Limited food preparation, such as dish-up service, scooping and serving fully cooked foods, or serving prepackaged foods do not require a handwash station.

  • Use 1 of these options:

    Option 1: Use a stand-alone station from the Price Center (limit 4 booths per station). Contact Price Center Reservations, (858) 534-7666, to reserve a stand-alone handwash station

    Option 2: Set up a handwash station that has:

    • A minimum 2 gallon container of water with a spigot tap
    • A bottle of pump-style liquid or foam soap
    • A roll of paper towels for drying hands
    • A catch bucket or basin to catch the dirty water

    Price Center handwash station     Handwash station for temporary food booth

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Get a fire extinguisher if necessary. If barbecues or gas-fired cooking devices are used, a 5- or 10-pound Type ABC fire extinguisher is required.
  • Students: Rent an extinguisher from the Center for Student Involvement (subject to availability).
    • Contact the Center for Student Involvement by e-mail or phone, (858) 534-0501.
    • A $25 deposit is required, which will be refunded if the extinguisher is not used.
    • Pick up an extinguisher at the Center for Student Involvement office, Price Center East, level 3.
  • Staff members: obtain a fire extinguisher from Facilities Management.
    • If you need both a barbecue and an extinguisher, submit an online Special Event Request.
    • If you need an extinguisher only, submit a regular online Work Request.
    • An index number is required; there is a charge regardless of whether or not the extinguisher is used.
    • Order an extinguisher several days before your event to make sure one is available.
  • Follow these steps for extinguisher use:
    • Read How to Use a Fire Extinguisher.
    • Place the extinguisher within 75 feet of the barbecue or grill. Make sure workers can get to the extinguisher quickly and easily.
    • Cordon off barbecues and grills from the public.

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Follow sanitary food handling practices.
  • Do not allow people who are ill to handle, prepare, or serve food.
  • Wash your hands with soap and warm water before beginning work, immediately after using toilet facilities, and other times as necessary to prevent contamination of food.
  • Confine hair by tying it up or back, or by wearing a hat or hair net.
  • Use tongs, spatulas, or disposable plastic gloves when preparing or serving food to eliminate bare hand contact with foods.
  • Do not defrost potentially hazardous foods at room temperature! Use 1 of these methods to safely defrost frozen food:
    • Defrost food quickly in a microwave oven then transfer it to a refrigerator.
    • Allow frozen food to defrost in a refrigerator overnight.
  • Smoking is prohibited in food preparation and serving areas.

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Need an expert? Contact Environment, Health & Safety, (858) 534-5242 or 534-7513.


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Last reviewed/updated on Sep. 15, 2008 (see more info)
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