Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability
Frequently Asked Retail Food Questions
In order to provide quick responses to your questions, we have prepared this list of
frequently asked questions. You may find the answer you seek without waiting for a
response from our staff. If your question is not answered by this list, please feel free
to send us a note.
Retail Food
I went out to a
restaurant to eat, came home and got sick. Who do I report this to?
Contact the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment at (303) 692-3620;
or (303) 692-2700 or contact the
local health
department in the county in which the restaurant is located.
At what temperature
should I cook my food?
A uniform temperature of 140° F or above,
except for the following:
- Poultry, poultry stuffing, stuffed meats and stuffing containing meats- 165° F
- Pork and foods containing pork and ground beef- 155° F
- Rare roast beef and rare beefsteak- 130° F
- Leftovers- 165° F
Is it OK to cook
hamburgers and steaks to the customer's liking if they ask to have it cooked medium,
medium rare or rare?
Hamburgers should be cooked to an internal temperature of 155°
F or until the juices run clear. The customer does have the option to order
hamburger or steak cooked to their preference.
My electricity has been
out overnight. Is the food in my refrigerator/freezer still safe to eat?
Any foods that are potentially
hazardous (any foods containing
meat, poultry, pork, or other protein, milk or milk products, fish, etc.) that have
reached a temperature above 41° F for more than 4 hours need disposal.
How long can I leave my
groceries in the car after I shop?
Potentially hazardous
food should not be held out of the refrigerator for more than four (4) hours.
Groceries should be taken home and put away as soon as possible after shopping
What is the temperature
danger zone for potentially hazardous foods?
Do not hold potentially
hazardous foods between 41° F and 140° F.
Keep cold food at or below 41° F
and hot foods at or above 135° F.
Do plans need to be submitted for the
construction of a retail food establishment?
Yes.
Submit the required plans to the local
health department of jurisdiction
What is required to open a retail food establishment in
Colorado?
A Colorado
Retail Food License must be obtained.
Where can I obtain a retail food establishment license?
By
contacting the CDPHE (303) 692-3620 or local health department
of responsibility in the county in which you would like to operate.
Does a push cart serving coffee, espresso and/or
pastries need a retail food license?
No, if the
pastries are not potentially hazardous.
Is a grease trap required in a retail food
establishment?
No. However,
when installed, the grease trap shall be located away from food preparation areas, be
easily accessible for cleaning and it must be installed flush to the floor.
Do I need to install wheel chair accessible
rest rooms in my newly remodeled retail food establishment?
It is not
required by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The U.S. Department
of Justice is responsible for developing and enforcing ADA public accommodations as well
as state and local government regulations. Contact the Disability and Business Technical
Assistance Center for technical assistance at (800) 949-4232.
How do I start a mobile retail food operation?
You must
obtain a Colorado Retail Food License and comply with Chapter Nine of the (Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and
Regulations
What are the licensing
requirements for opening a bed and breakfast establishment in Colorado?
A bed and breakfast establishment is defined as: A
residential structure(s)/property(s) providing sleeping accommodations; meals are provided
and service to guests in one common eating area and/or the guest room, a single rate shall
include room and board; and there shall be an innkeeper in residence within or adjacent to
the bed and breakfast establishment.
If the establishment meets this definition, no
retail food license is required. The establishment must comply only with the
"Sanitary Standards and Regulations for Public Accommodations." If the
establishment extends the food service operations, a retail food license is required in
addition to meeting the regulations for public accommodations.
Information on how to obtain a retail food license and a copy of the regulations for
public accommodations can be obtained from the CDPHE (303) 692-3620 or local health department of jurisdiction.
Are retail food service
workers required to wear gloves?
Only if the retail food service worker is not handling
ready-to-eat food, or they have been approved by their local public
health agency not to wear gloves.
Can I prepare food in
the home and sell it wholesale to retail markets, etc.?
No, unless you have a separate kitchen in your home that is
dedicated to production of the food. The kitchen must be approved by the local
health department or CDPHE. Non-profit, charitable organizations may be exempt.
Contact the CDPHE (303) 692-3620 or
local health
department in the county in which the organization is located.
I have been approved to operate a retail food
establishment in the City and County of Denver. How do I receive a Colorado Retail
Food License?
If you are
going to operate a retail food establishment outside of the City and County
of Denver, a Colorado Retail
Food License can be issued by the county health department in which you intend to operate.
Division of Environmental Health and
Sustainability Home Page
|
