Usda/fsis

[new smoke]

I've been thinking about setting up the new cooker in a parking lot and attempting to sell some Que this summer. We don't have much for food choices here in town, a few bars, an ice cream joint and pizza place. None of which sell BBQ.
I've been trying to cover my bases with the county, insurance, prep facilities and such. I ran into something this past week that has me scratchin my head a bit and I am wondering if anyone here has dealt with this. I contacted the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service and they tell me that if I do catering, I am not under their jurisdiction, but if I do a walk-up foodstand or cart, I am under their jurisdiction.

My question is, has anyone here gone through their process for getting an inspection by them? Obviously it can be done, I'm just looking for some tips from someone that has gone through it, or has any info on possible pitfalls.

Thanks.

[Richtee]

Run, Forrest, RUN!

Probably a PM to bbally might be a good expendature of electrons.

[IrishChef]

While I don't know the specifics of Nebraska food code or inspections, I don't know why the USDA would be the inspecting authority for a food cart. They are usually concerned with meat processing and interstate sales of meat containing products. I would start at your local county environmental health office, and see where you get. You may need to have specifics like general location, food type, facility, etc in order for them to give you a good idea what you will need.

[crusty ol salt]

i have posed this question to various street venders at local fairs. the answer is normally a current business license, a sanitary inspection/permit from the city or county and they rent a space from the fair promoter.

good luck, let us know how it works out

[new smoke]

Run, Forrest, RUN!

Probably a PM to bbally might be a good expendature of electrons.

I've had to stop myself from running a couple different times already. I'll give bbally a try.

While I don't know the specifics of Nebraska food code or inspections, I don't know why the USDA would be the inspecting authority for a food cart. They are usually concerned with meat processing and interstate sales of meat containing products. I would start at your local county environmental health office, and see where you get. You may need to have specifics like general location, food type, facility, etc in order for them to give you a good idea what you will need.

I started with the county and got the answers that I was looking for from the inspector. Then, I wanted to be find out if I needed anything from the USDA. So, I went to their website and got to the ask-a-question page and posed this question:

If I am smoking meats that have been purchased as raw products from USDA approved suppliers (pork, beef, chicken) do I need to be approved/inspected by the USDA? Or, do I only need inspection from my local health department? I would be providing these smoked meats in a catering and walk-up food stand setting.
Thank you.

Here was their response:

If I understood your question correctly, should:
1) You purchase only inspected and passed red meat or poultry products, fully cook and smoke the meat item and then serve the cooked product as a caterer for the buyer at the designated location or the buyer picks up the finished product. Then no, your cooking and smoking operation would not have to be under FSIS jurisdiction.

2) You purchase only inspected and passed red meat or poultry products, fully cook and smoke the meat item and then intend to sell the fully cooked/smoked product via a walk-up food stand or cart. Then yes, your cooking and smoking operation would have to be under FSIS jurisdiction.

I've got another call into the county guy, but haven't heard back yet.

i have posed this question to various street venders at local fairs. the answer is normally a current business license, a sanitary inspection/permit from the city or county and they rent a space from the fair promoter.

good luck, let us know how it works out

Thanks. That is one of the other people I have a call into. A county fair board member. See what they know.

[IrishChef]

From what I gather from your last post:

Most states have an "equal to" inspection program, where it is a local authority that does the inspection. The difference is you won't be able to ship outside of your state. If you are selling a raw product, I believe you would fall under that. If you are selling fully cooked, hot ready to eat meals, the county should suffice.
Does that sound close to what you were told?

[GOT14U]

I had a catering company in AZ for 2 years and never had to deal with the USDA. It was all local (county,state,city) licenses and inspections I had to get. And AZ is one of the stricter states so I highly doubt you need to have any thing to do with the USDA. Good luck

[HawgHeaven]

No USDA here either, just the county and state...

[new smoke]

From what I gather from your last post:

Most states have an "equal to" inspection program, where it is a local authority that does the inspection. The difference is you won't be able to ship outside of your state. If you are selling a raw product, I believe you would fall under that. If you are selling fully cooked, hot ready to eat meals, the county should suffice.
Does that sound close to what you were told?

From what I have gathered since yesterdays post, is that I shouldn't fall under the USDA.

I'm going to call the county guy again and be sure. When I talked to him a week or so ago, he didn't mention anything about the Feds. So, hopefully I won't need them.

Thanks everyone for your help and wishing me well. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[new smoke]

Ok. To wrap up this thread properly.

I talked to our county food inspector and he said there is no need to go through the USDA for the walk-up food stand. It is all handled at the county and state level. That is what I was hoping to here. Makes what I'm trying to do much easier.

Thanks again for the responses.