Catering services.The provision of food service by a lone food establishment, including a mobile food unit (MFU), on private property for a singular or recurring event.
Food establishment.An operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves or otherwise provides food for human consumption, such as a food service establishment, retail food store, satellite or catered feeding location, catering operation, if the operation provides food directly to a consumer or to a conveyance used to transport people, market, remote catered operation, institution, or food bank, and that relinquishes possession of food to a consumer directly, or indirectly through a delivery service such as home delivery of grocery orders or restaurant takeout orders, or delivery service that is provided by common carriers.
(1) The term includes an element of the operation such as a transportation vehicle or a central preparation facility that supplies a vending location or satellite feeding location unless the vending or feeding location is permitted by the regulatory authority; a restaurant; a grocery store; an operation that is conducted in a mobile, roadside, stationary, temporary or permanent facility or location; a group residence; an outfitter operation; a bed and breakfast extended; where consumption is on or off the premises; and regardless of whether or not there is a charge for the food.
(2) The term does not include an establishment that offers only prepackaged foods that are not potentially hazardous; a produce stand that only offers whole, uncut, fresh fruits and vegetables; a food processing plant; a kitchen in a private home if only food that is not potentially hazardous is prepared for sale or service at a function such as a religious or charitable organization’s bake sale; a bed and breakfast limited facility as defined in these rules; or a private home.
(3) This term also incorporates any amendments or changes to the definition of “food establishment” as contained in the Texas Administrative Code, title 25, section 228.2.
Mobile food unit (MFU).A vehicle-mounted, self or otherwise propelled, self-contained food service operation, designed to be readily movable (including but not limited to catering trucks, trailers, pushcarts, and roadside vendors) and used to store, prepare, display, serve or sell food. Mobile units must completely retain their mobility at all times. A mobile food unit does not include a stand or a booth. A roadside food vendor is classified as a MFU.
State rules.The state rules found at 25 Texas Administrative Code, chapter 228. These rules are also known as the Texas Food Establishment Rules.
(Ordinance 542 adopted 9/2/20; Ordinance adopting Code)