Gifting food/drink - NV health permit required? Seriously?!

[Sic Pup]

just jump through the hoops and get a permit.

[Mosin]

Just FYI - you DO NOT need a permit to serve drinks, unless they are fresh squeezed juices. If you're just doing a bar, you DON'T need a permit.

We are planning on making a giant batch of Kool Aid (which is a sublime mix of water, sugar, and the Kool Aid flava packet) and taking it out to deep playa to share. It will be served in dixie cups over ice purchased from Arctica. Do we need a permit?

[marcgorcey]

Just wondering if camps did/didn't get inspected by NV State Health Dept this year ?

We received a permit but were not inspected, contrary to our understanding of the process.

[dBrew]

I know a couple folks who did food gifting, and they were not inspected either. We ended up doing some spontaneous gifting (we brought A LOT of grilled cheese fixin's, and wanted to give them away rather than waste the leftovers), and no one gave us a second thought, either.

[Nitevenus]

It's a possibility because of it being such a large event that you didn't even know it was happening (the inspection). I have done other public events with food service and have been quietly inspected. I don't believe that they have to inform you they are inspectors. If you were doing it wrong, something would have been said.

[marcgorcey]

It's a possibility because of it being such a large event that you didn't even know it was happening (the inspection). I have done other public events with food service and have been quietly inspected. I don't believe that they have to inform you they are inspectors. If you were doing it wrong, something would have been said.

Not likely. Our hospitality area is usually inspected, and the inspector identifies him/herself to the bar manager and goes through the list with him. Neither our kitchen, nor our bar was inspected and I checked with staff as well.

Maybe they had their hands full with real problem camps ?

[big baby jesus]

I see both sides of the discussion, but I tend to side with the permit side of things. I don't see any difference between someone going over food safety guidelines and issuing a permit when I comply and the DMV approving art cars. BRC needs some order to it, whether part of it comes from the State in the form of a health permit or someone approving an art car or laying out the streets. Pick your poison, there is always someone making a decision about something that affects you.

[marcgorcey]

It's a possibility because of it being such a large event that you didn't even know it was happening (the inspection). I have done other public events with food service and have been quietly inspected. I don't believe that they have to inform you they are inspectors. If you were doing it wrong, something would have been said.

That is possible, however since I was in the kitchen during all meal times, and since non-kitchen personnel are not allowed to be in the cooking area it's hard to see how this could have happened.

My suspicion is that it just couldn't be scheduled. The inspectors seem to work 9 to 5, which happens to be almost outside the time window for meal service in our camp. They might have caught the last 1/2 hour of breakfast or so.

I don't think that we were inspected.

[marcgorcey]

Hello ePlaya,

It seems to me that the state of Nevada has changed the process for this year. The form seems to now say that you need a permit for camps serving more than 125 people this year, which is much less restrictive than 30 people as it was in 2010.

Also, they seem to be saying that not all camps will be inspected.

Good news, but if you are running a group kitchen you still need to follow basic safety steps.

[marcgorcey]

http://health.nv.gov/BFHS_EHS.htm

Forms are here.

[theCryptofishist]

It's a possibility because of it being such a large event that you didn't even know it was happening (the inspection). I have done other public events with food service and have been quietly inspected. I don't believe that they have to inform you they are inspectors. If you were doing it wrong, something would have been said.

That is possible, however since I was in the kitchen during all meal times, and since non-kitchen personnel are not allowed to be in the cooking area it's hard to see how this could have happened.

My suspicion is that it just couldn't be scheduled. The inspectors seem to work 9 to 5, which happens to be almost outside the time window for meal service in our camp. They might have caught the last 1/2 hour of breakfast or so.

I don't think that we were inspected.

The lack of an inspection report to put on public display tends to support you.

[Rice]

http://health.nv.gov/PDFs/FaR/Burning_man_tips.pdf

[wraith]

As a professional cook, I'm amazed at all the bitching that happened earlier in this thread about making people cooking for the public follow elementary sanitary practices.

To give an excellent example of something that happened locally, imagine the fun and exciting participatory experience you could have when J. R. Peabody over there is making kebabs, never having actually been educated to understand that raw chicken carrying salmonella shouldn't be handled at the same time as finished food.

Because I know what I want to do is spend my time in the port-a-johns, dying of heat and trying to crap out what few functioning brain cells I have left.

[Elderberry]

It's a possibility because of it being such a large event that you didn't even know it was happening (the inspection). I have done other public events with food service and have been quietly inspected. I don't believe that they have to inform you they are inspectors. If you were doing it wrong, something would have been said.

That is possible, however since I was in the kitchen during all meal times, and since non-kitchen personnel are not allowed to be in the cooking area it's hard to see how this could have happened.

My suspicion is that it just couldn't be scheduled. The inspectors seem to work 9 to 5, which happens to be almost outside the time window for meal service in our camp. They might have caught the last 1/2 hour of breakfast or so.

I don't think that we were inspected.

The lack of an inspection report to put on public display tends to support you.

We have been inspected at least twice that I recall. They checked out our washing station and procedures, serving procedures, as well as the temperature of the freezer. I thought they were polite, helpful and informative. Definitely glad this is a requirement for all the previously stated reasons.

[theCryptofishist]

As a professional cook, I'm amazed at all the bitching that happened earlier in this thread about making people cooking for the public follow elementary sanitary practices.

To give an excellent example of something that happened locally, imagine the fun and exciting participatory experience you could have when J. R. Peabody over there is making kebabs, never having actually been educated to understand that raw chicken carrying salmonella shouldn't be handled at the same time as finished food.

Because I know what I want to do is spend my time in the port-a-johns, dying of heat and trying to crap out what few functioning brain cells I have left. :D

Yeah, well, some people don't want anyone to interfere with their freedom to spend the entire camping trip that way.

[Teo del Fuego]

And believe me with the passive attitudes I see here, so willing to bend over to be fucked a little harder, that day is coming.

I guess this is how any event must become once it gets really big.

Hit the nail on the head. There are too many Ned Flanders on this Board spouting off about liability insurance for this and that, permits needed for this and that. Really, Burning Man is ramping up to jump the shark and land in Disney World.

[RamonaBeeMayhem]

What about ice water and tea? (no food)

[theCryptofishist]

I'd guess, yes. And seriously, have people bring their own cup. That way you don't have to get into the whole dishwashing thing.
But contact burningman or the NV department of health. Everything I've heard about them indicates that they are very open to working with the event, even thought the idea seems onerous. (I'd hate to give anyone food poisoning. It's nasty.)

[Elderberry]

Actually, bring your own cup or plate is breaking the rules too, because of the possibility of contamination; as we were told by the health inspectors. Which is why we provide paper cups. (and collect the trash)