Fact Sheet: Fish Fry Food Safety

KNOW THE FACTS!

Safe Food & Water

Obtain food from approved sources. Water used must be potable and safe to drink. Store in clean containers.

Keep Foods Cold

Keep food items such as meats, dairy products and side dishes cold until ready for cooking. Keep under 41ºF at all times. When using coolers, completely surround food products with ice. Monitor closely and change ice when needed.

Keep Foods Hot

When holding hot foods, keep foods above 135ºF. Otherwise, bacteria could grow in the food.

Cooking

To kill bacteria, cook all food to the proper temperatures:

• Fish/Shrimp/Pork/Steak 145ºF
• Hamburgers 155ºF
• Chicken/Poultry 165ºF
• Hot Dogs/Vegetables 140ºF

Keep a food thermometer handy to monitor cooking temperatures.

Do you Need a License?

ORC 3717.42 (5) states that the following operations are exempt from licensure:
“A church, school, fraternal or veterans’ organization, volunteer fire organization, or volunteer emergency medical service organization preparing or serving food intended for individual portion service on its premises for not more than seven consecutive days or not more than fifty-two separate days during a licensing period.”

Who Needs a License?

Any outside vendor or mobile food service that is charging a fee or making a profit will need to obtain the proper food licenses. These outside vendors are exempt only if they do not charge for their services or all money collected is donated back to the event organizers.

Licenses>>>

If a license is required, contact Hamilton County Public Health at 946-7800 with any questions or to obtain license applications. You may also visit our Web site at www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org.

Utensils

Wash, rinse and sanitize utensils every 4 hours or when they become contaminated or dirty.  Have spares available in case utensils are dropped on the ground or otherwise contaminated.

Trash Storage>>>

• Keep all trash cans covered.
• Store all trash away from food and food preparation areas.
• Dispose of all trash properly into a dumpster when cans become full.

Frying Safety>>>

• Dress in short sleeves if possible and be sure you don’t have any threads or fabric (like
  apron strings) hanging from your clothing.
• Have a fire extinguisher close by at all times.
• Keep the cooking area clean, so oil will not splatter onto nearby items, possibly starting a fire.
• Water and oil do not mix, so be sure not to put wet utensils into boiling oil.
• Add food to the oil slowly, being careful not to “drop” items into the boiling oil.
• Never leave boiling oil unattended.

Location>>>

All food preparation and service should be done indoors or under covered tents to protect against contamination.

Hygiene>>>

Set up a portable hand sink, water tank or cooler with a spigot to act as a handwashing station.

• Have soap and paper towels available.
• Wash hands often! Raw food juices contain harmful bacteria.
• Wear gloves when handling ready-to-eat food. Change gloves when they become contaminated or dirty.
• Food workers should wear hair restraints/hats.
• Hand sanitizer is NOT to be used as a substitute for handwashing.
• Do not smoke, eat, or drink while preparing or serving food.

Fire Safety

Contact your fire and zoning departments to ensure your operation meets any requirements.

FREE Food Safety Training

Non-profit organizations may attend Hamilton County Public Health’s bimonthly food safety classes at NO CHARGE. Classes occur on the first Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. and the third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. Call 946-7800 for more information or to register for classes.

Questions

If you have questions, please contact our Environmental Health Division at (513) 946-7800.

Download a printable version of this fact sheet here.

250 William Howard Taft Road 2nd Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45219 Phone 513.946.7800 Fax 513.946.7890 hamiltoncountyhealth.org