Page 26 - The Edge - Winter 2021

AASBO 2020 VIRTUAL ANNUAL
CONFERENCE WRAP-UP
BY DON HARRIS
David Morales
If You’re Cooking or Preparing Food, You Need a Permit

Obtaining the right permits for providing food and For schools that have no kitchen but have students
beverages at school functions is geared toward to feed, very little, if any, food is prepared on-site.
preventing students, teachers, parents and the general They receive food from other schools or contract
public from becoming ill. with approved vendors for such food as pizza or
other meals, Morales said. They have limited need to
It’s the job of David Morales of the Maricopa keep food hot or cold.
County Environmental Service Department to see
that schools apply for, receive and comply with the “We need to know where you’re getting food,”
terms of appropriate permits issued for cafeterias, Morales said. “Sometimes you have a parent offer to
kitchens, fund-raisers, concession stands, student cook food at home. That is absolutely not allowed –
stores and after-school events. In a breakout session that is not an approved source.”
at AASBO’s Virtual Annual Conference, Morales
explained that the department’s mission “is to provide In addition, a service kitchen should have back-up
safe food, water, waste disposal and vector borne utensils in case one or more of them fall to the floor.
disease reduction control” for people in Maricopa Getting a permit for a DECA Room Store depends on
County. the scope of the sale – whether you’re selling very
simple food to something elaborate, Morales said.
“Permitting depends on what you’re planning to do,” For example, sealed packaged food that is shelf-
Morales emphasized. stable, such as cookies, chips, candy and bottled or

For main cafeteria kitchens,
food is usually prepared on-site,
served that day, and leftovers are
discarded. Some kitchens prepare
food and have it delivered to
pre-approved sites, such as other
schools, Morales said. If schools
want to serve food outside of
their kitchen, he said they should
add a catering or special event
permit. Morales urged AASBO
members to make sure they have
separate sinks for hand washing,
utensils and mops. There also
needs to be screens or air curtains
to prevent flying insects from
getting inside.

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26 THE EDGE WINTER 2021