Contra Costa residents interested in selling home-cooked food to the public can now get a health permit to do so.
Beginning this week, Contra Costa Health (CCH) offers a new type of food permit for small-scale, home-based restaurants operated inside private homes by their residents. Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) can offer meals for dine-in, delivery and takeout.
“By providing this option we ensure that people who sell food out of their homes do so in a safe manner that protects the health of our community,” said Federal Glover, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. “We also open the door for neighborhood businesses, and for more access to healthy, nutritious food in areas where options may be limited.”
The board unanimously adopted an ordinance in May authorizing the county to offer the permit under terms of a 2018 state law. Several other Bay Area jurisdictions already do so, including Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Solano counties, and the City of Berkeley.
The permit allows meals to be stored, handled, and prepared to be served or delivered in a private residence. Most other food permits require a commercial kitchen in a restaurant or similar facility.
A permitted home can also serve as a space to prepare food for sale on street carts, a requirement to obtain a cart vendor health permit that has proven to be a significant barrier in Contra Costa.
As with holders of standard commercial food permits, MEHKO permit holders must meet requirements relating both to the spaces where their businesses operate and the food-safety training of operators. CCH will inspect each permit holder annually or more often.
MEHKO permit holders will be required to display their permits at their homes, and their health inspection records will be available to the public at cchealth.org.
18 comments
MEHKO needs to come to Medow homes park on Detroit ave in concord on any giving day and do a round to advise the 10+ street vendors of this requirement. Good luck!
Have them bring ice.
This is a good idea given the number of new food stands I see popping up around Concord. I prefer safely cooked food.
Oh Boy!
The Balut Cart at BART…. I’m going to get the ball rolling right away.
Rodrigo! Venancio! round up some ducks.
Well, we know who the City whores are catering, too, as usual!
Isn’t it ironic that illegals can be given an opportunity to pay for a food permit yet the City whores don’t care that the lion’s share of the people who get these permits aren’t legal citizens in the first place? Makes sense, huh?
Well, have you seen the application? Not sure if they required to have a SS#.
This legislation provides almost zero assurances of the cleanliness of the ingredients, kitchen, or people doing the preparation.
Risky stuff.
But hey, where else will you be able to get Sizzling Weasel on a Stick………
Along with the permit, food vendors should also display proof that they are in the United States legally, otherwise what they are doing is rewarding criminal behavior. It’s criminal to sneak into the United States illegally, and it’s criminal for an illegal to work in the United Sates. Anybody that buys food out of somebody’s home, or from a street vendor, is guilty of contributing to the influx of illegal invaders. It’s an incentive for more of them to invade our communities.
You do this research for everything you buy?
You must not be eating much these days.
Agreed! But your same government that tells you illegals are here illegal, gives them all the benefits a legal person gets. They can not work legally due to not having a ss# but IRS issues a TIN# so that they can file at the end of year taxes.
scary thought
Burrito! zarigüeya y mapache–El grande ~~~ coming to a street corner near you!
People sell without a permit today, why would they go get one. Putting in laws after allowing lawlessness, nice try.
Exactly. They will make more money without having some permit that will only have strangers coming around their home to check their kitchens..come on now!
and yet another easy way out to make life easier on the illegals. This is just a shame
A hundred years ago, people turned their front parlor into small ‘ethnic–eateries’ without much fuss. Voila! Mama Mia Pizzeria! It could work in a “live-above” style split residential/commercial row-house type building.
But, neighborhood parking? ouch!
Now, I should be able to get a 9-5/M-S permit to sell all the “antique-esque” lovely crap I’ve collected, straight from my living room….
🤔hmmmmmm
eat at home people, this is only popular because people are paying for it.
@ Angry American——-No Soup For You!…. Next!