Health+and+Safety

Health and Safety Requirements

Permits are required for all food establishments and are non-transferable. We’ll need to complete a permit application, supply a menu and food preparation chart with a $60 fee, and supply a current floor plan. Under the permit we will classify as a ‘class R’ establishment, as defined by the Whatcom County Health Department as a “restaurant, caterer, espresso, snack bar, smokehouse, etc…prepar[ing] ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous foods.” Under this classification all owners, managers, and employees are required to have current food service permits, costing $10 each. The Co-op (currently the Underground Coffeehouse) has the required hand-washing sink, three sinks for dish-washing, and a mop closet. We will obtain adequate refrigeration and freezer space for perishable foods. As the Underground Coffeehouse is currently operating while meeting all codes and regulations, only minor alterations will be needed to meet our service needs.

As we may be preparing food off site, and serving it out of a temporary food establishment: we will be transporting the food from and approved kitchen, in approved food grade containers. All utensils and napkins will be disposable and approved food grade quality. They will also be eco-friendly compostable material. Any condiments not in single-serving packets will be in designated dispensers to prevent contamination.

[|Housing and Dining Safe Food Practices]

Washington State Department of Health [|Food Safety Site] Washington State Retail Food Code: www.doh.**wa**.gov/ehp/sf/Pubs/**Food**Rule/**food**-rule-working-doc.pdf

Here is a link to health codes if we end up having a bus or a food cart: http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/food/ruleworkingdoc-chapter9.pdf

[|Food Worker's Card F.A.Q.]

Guide for [|Workers Manual]