Standardized health department regulations across the country

I really enjoy reading the threads in here even though I don't own a cart. The biggest item that bugs me to no end is how there are different Health Deparment requirements for different counties and states. They seem to vary so much. One state allows a HD cart to operate without using a commissary while the next one will not allow a HD cart unless they have a commissary. In some states or counties a HD cart is allowed to serve chil while the next one will not allow it.
 
Why can't there be a uniform regulations that would apply to any Hot Dog cart regardless of the county or state?

Probably because every city council, county board and state legislature wants to have their say whenever possible and micromanage everything they can.  In fact, on these city councils, county boards and state legislatures are probably some people who have a special interest (or have friends who have an interest) in the restaurant industry, the health departments or real estate.  Look how much disagreement is generated over any other regulation which the federal government tries to take away from the cities, counties or states.

i am coming to believe that it's less about actual food safety and more about revenue.  i could pay three times what i do for a "catering" license and be fine to cook about anything.  or i can pay an extra $100 a day for the same privilege.  the extra $$ (if i had it) would allow me to do more and make more, but they can't answer if the catering license will cover me as a daily hot dog guy.  my inspector was pretty sure i'd have to buy both. lol

We have  national plumbing and electrical codes. Even though on the surface a national health code may make sense. I don't want the feds telling me how to cook hot dogs! In Colorado there seems to be little variation county to county. One of the problems I see is the commissary rule when selling what is considered non-hazardous food. One requirement is dumping waste water. Whether I pour it down my drain or the commissary drain it all goes in the same sewer line to the same treatment plant.

slammin


One requirement is dumping waste water. Whether I pour it down my drain or the commissary drain it all goes in the same sewer line to the same treatment plant.

The basin that you dump your waste water in at the commissary should be required to be connected to a grease trap.  That would be the difference there.  If your commissary isn't required to have a grease trap, the rule would be ridiculous.

Please don't,t say this too loudly and quickly run home and wash your mouth out with soap, say 3 Hail Marys, and spin around 3 times while kissing a frog.  I don't think you want the feds involved in a hot dog cart business, and if the regulations were made universal I guarantee those lucky ones who own carts in more relaxed states would end up with far more restrictive, regulations.

National standards are in progress for food management. Not sure if national standards are being developed for actual carts / trailers / brick & mortar establishments or not, but would be nice if a national cart cert was available.

There are Professional Food Manager certifications, issued by Pro-Metric and ServSafe, and good nationwide. In MI, every food biz owner or manager (including cart owners) must have one of these certs. They are good for 5 years. I studied the ServSafe course, but local HD switched to Pro-Metric, by the time I was ready for the test. ServSafe is a better course in my view, and was well worth the money, even though I didn't get the ServSafe cert.

There is a new "International Food Protection Training Institute" in Flake City, MI (Battle Creek - there's more flakes than corn here).

http://www.ifpti.org/

http://www.wwmt.com/artic...ek-training.html  (blunders by the newscasters are typical of peeps here)

just what we need more regulationand more cost.

olddude2


just what we need more regulationand more cost.

I couldn't agree more. What a disaster that would be. I can't imagine why anyone would wish for the feds to be involved in a hot dog cart, or for that matter a trailer or restaurant.

Those that want this sort of involvement are just to lazy to go to their local health department and find out what the rules are. Or worse yet go to the local health department and then try and compare those rules and regulations to the rules and regulations to those set in a state 500 miles away.

For gods sake if you don't like the rules in your home state, move to the other state that has rules you like or can meet.

If the feds get involved, the rules will escalate over the years to the point that no one will operate a cart except the chain restaurants.

Jack