The School Nurse sent this reminder 1/27/20 - to remind everyone of the CA state law that requires food served (either offered or sold) in schools be prepared in a licensed kitchen.
It is flu season, hand foot and mouth illness is going around, and there are always viral illnesses circulating. We have no ability to determine the cleanliness of home kitchens, or to determine whether they store and prepare foods safely.
The California Health and Safety Code, Section 114021-114023 state the following:
114021. (a) Food shall be obtained from sources that comply with
all applicable laws.
(b) Food stored or prepared in a private home shall not be used or
offered for sale in a food facility.
114023. Food in a hermetically sealed container shall be obtained
from a food processing plant that is regulated by the food regulatory
agency that has jurisdiction over the plant.
So, basically, what this means is that food prepared in private homes cannot be served to students at school during the school day. Food that is brought to school for special treats and parties, must be purchased from a facility where the food was prepared in a licensed and inspected kitchen and be in the sealed container it was purchased in.
It is however, permissible for students to prepare foods and consume them at school as a supervised learning activity.
I know some parents get upset about this but, this is a state law, not a county law or school rule. The law was passed several years ago to help control exposure to food borne illnesses from improperly prepared or stored foods. It is even more relevant now with the higher incidence of food allergies in children.
Please pass this on to your teachers and parents!
Thank you for taking the health and safety of our students seriously,
Patty
Patty Morris, R.N. School Nurse, Health Services Director
Siskiyou County Office of Education
609 South Gold Street, Yreka CA 96097-3110
Office Phone 530.842.8425 Cell Phone 530.598.0067 FAX 530.842.8437
http://www.siskiyoucoe.net