Texas Administrative Code
Title 25 - HEALTH SERVICES
Part 1 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Chapter 229 - FOOD AND DRUG
Subchapter U - PERMITTING RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
Section 229.371 - Definitions

Universal Citation: 25 TX Admin Code ยง 229.371

Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024

The following words and terms, when used in these sections, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) Bed and breakfast extended means:

(A) an establishment with more than seven rooms for rent; or

(B) that provides for food service other than breakfast to overnight guests; and

(C) for the purposes of these rules, such facilities are classified as food establishments.

(2) Bed and breakfast food establishment means:

(A) an establishment that provides food service other than to its overnight guests;

(B) the establishment must meet the rules and regulations applicable to retail food establishments; and

(C) for the purposes of these rules, such facilities are classified as food establishments.

(3) Child care center--Any facility licensed by the regulatory authority to receive 13 or more children for child care which prepares food for on-site consumption. A child care center is classified as a food establishment.

(4) Department--The Department of State Health Services.

(5) Food--A raw, cooked, or processed edible substance, ice, beverage or ingredient used or intended for use or for sale in whole or in part for human consumption, or chewing gum.

(6) 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 operations; conveyance used to transport people, 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.

(A) 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; group residence; outfitter operations; bed and breakfast extended and bed and breakfast food establishments; where consumption is on or off the premises; and regardless of whether there is a charge for the food.

(B) 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.

(C) All definitions found in § 228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions) under the Retail Food rules are applicable to these sections except that, for purposes of obtaining a permit and payment of fees only, the term "food establishment" does not include:
(i) food establishments permitted and inspected under authority granted to Home-Rule or Type A General-Law Municipalities;

(ii) federally inspected food establishments on federal property;

(iii) correction facilities under the inspection of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;

(iv) nursing homes under the inspection of Long Term Care Regulatory in the Texas Department of Human Services;

(v) hospitals under the inspection of the Health Facility Licensure Division in the department and which do not serve food to the general public;

(vi) food establishments on state campuses inspected by state college or university personnel in accordance with the requirements of § 229.373 of this title (relating to Minimum Standards for Permitting and Operation);

(vii) food establishments licensed under the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 431, as manufacturers of food, provided the fee for licensure exceeds the permit fee required under § 229.372 of this title (relating to Permitting Fees and Procedures);

(viii) food establishments under the inspection of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation;

(ix) nonprofit organizations as defined in these rules. Nonprofit organizations which meet the definition of "manufacturers of food" under Health and Safety Code, Chapter 431, or the definition of "food salvage establishments" under Health and Safety Code, Chapter 432, are not exempt from licensure in those categories;

(x) food and beverage vending machines; and

(xi) mobile food units permitted and inspected under the authority granted to Home-Rule or Type A General-Law Municipalities and which operate only within their respective jurisdictions. Except for units which handle only pre-packaged non-potentially hazardous foods, a mobile food unit is classified as a food establishment, regardless of whether or not food preparation occurs on the unit.

(7) Food Service Establishment--A food establishment as defined in these rules.

(8) Mobile food unit--A vehicle-mounted mobile food establishment designed to be readily moveable.

(9) Nonprofit organization--A civic or fraternal organization, charity, lodge, association, proprietorship or corporation possessing a 501(C) exemption under the Internal Revenue Code; or religious organizations meeting the definition of "church" under the Internal Revenue Code, §170(b)(1)(A)(I).

(10) Outfitter operation--Any operations such as trail rides or river raft trips where food is offered to patrons and which operates out of a central preparation location or food establishment. An outfitter operation is classified as a food establishment.

(11) Permit holder--The person that is legally responsible for the operation of the food establishment such as the owner, the owner's agent, or other person; and who possesses a valid permit to operate a food establishment.

(12) Person--An association, corporation, individual, partnership, other legal entity, government, or governmental subdivision or agency.

(13) Potentially hazardous food--A food that is natural or synthetic and that requires temperature control because it is in a form capable of supporting the rapid and progressive growth of infectious or toxigenic microorganisms; the growth and toxin production of Clostridium botulinum; or in raw shell eggs, the growth of Salmonella enteritidis.

(14) Pushcart--A non self-propelled mobile food unit limited to serving nonpotentially hazardous food or potentially hazardous foods requiring a limited amount of preparation as authorized by the regulatory authority. A pushcart is classified as a mobile food unit.

(15) Retail food store--A food establishment or section of an establishment where food and food products are offered to the consumer and intended for off-premise consumption. The term includes delicatessens that offer prepared food in bulk quantities only. The term does not include establishments which handle only prepackaged, nonpotentially hazardous foods; roadside markets that offer only unprocessed fresh fruits and fresh vegetables for sale; or farmers markets; except that, for the purposes of obtaining a permit and payment of fees only, the term "retail food store" does not include establishments permitted and inspected under authority granted to Home-Rule and Type A General-Law Municipalities.

(16) Roadside food vendor--A person who operates a mobile retail food store from a temporary location adjacent to a public roadway or highway. Foods shall not be prepared or processed by roadside food vendors. A roadside vendor is classified as a food establishment.

(17) School food establishment--A food service establishment where food is prepared and intended for service primarily to students in institutions of learning including, but not limited to, public and private schools, including kindergarten, preschool and elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. A school food establishment is classified as a food establishment.

(18) Temporary food establishment--A food establishment that operates for a period of no more than 14 consecutive days in conjunction with a single event or celebration.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Texas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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