DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Thomas L. Schlenker
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Proposed Changes to City Code Chapter 13, "Food and Food Handlers"
SUMMARY:
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (SAMHD) is recommending changes to Chapter 13, "Food and Food Handlers". The recommended changes are a result of the popularity of mobile vending around the country and in San Antonio.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Mobile food establishments have been increasing in numbers and complexity for the past four years in San Antonio. The most recent change to Chapter 13, Article IV established regulations for mobile food courts and allowed mobile food establishments (MFE) to operate at temporary events without having to purchase an additional permit by exempting MFE's from certain operating restrictions. Also, as MFE's change their operational methods and prepare more complex food items to meet consumer demands SAMHD must develop smarter more streamlined methods to effectively regulate the mobile food establishment industry. The Department has met on a number of occasions with stakeholders such as the San Antonio Food Truck Association; San Antonio Restaurant Association; and San Antonio Hotel and Lodging Association and also sent out a letter outlining the proposed changes in English and Spanish to all known mobile food establishment owners in SAMHD's database.
ISSUE:
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is recommending changes to Chapter 13 of the City Code entitled "Food and Food Handlers". Four major changes are being recommended to help modernize and streamline the regulation of MFE's. The first major change is to require a government issued identification for the applicant of a permit. The change will also allow the Department to cite an owner who is out of compliance with certain portions of the ordinance instead of citing the operator who may not be the owner. This change will help make th...
Click here for full text