Definitions

Definitions    

The following definitions may be referenced along with the definition of a Food Establishment as defined in the Food Code (TFER).

Mobile Food Unit (MFU) - a term used in the Texas Health and Safety Code to describe ALL TYPES of permitted mobile food establishments mounted on a vehicle.  This is synonymous with the term Mobile Food Establishment used in the Texas Food Establishment Rules.  The term Mobile Food Unit is used by NET Health to describe a single mobile food establishment regardless of its type. 

Types of Mobile Food Units (MFU)

Pushcart

• Process 1 Type Foods - (Receive packaged -Store packaged -Sell packaged).

  • Packaged Foods.  Commercially processed packaged food sold in its original packaged state to the consumer.

  • All equipment and foods must be self-contained on or within the pushcart.  Pushcarts are not allowed to set up extra tables or storage bins on the ground around the unit.

  • This type of pushcart is required to return daily to a permitted fixed food establishment permitted as a central preparation facility/commissary and servicing area.

    • Examples of foods offered:  packaged ice cream, packaged cotton candy, packaged chicharones, etc. 

Process 2 Type Foods

• Unpackaged food.

  • All equipment and foods must be self-contained on or within the pushcart

  • Preparation of Ready to Eat Foods with  limited preparation steps.  (Store - Prepare - Serve).

  • Reheating of a commercially processed Ready to Eat food item (Store - Reheat - Prepare - Hold - Serve).

  • This type of Mobile Food Unit is required to return to a permitted fixed food establishment permitted as a central preparation facility/commissary and servicing area daily.

    • Examples of food offered: Hot dogs, Sandwiches, Shaved Ice, Scooped Ice Cream, Kettle Corn, Beverage Service, or Nut Roasting. This is typically a Medium Risk Category. (NET Health Mobile Food Unit Types that fit this category are: (TCS Pushcart, Simple Menu Full Service Mobile Food Unit)

Limited Package Mobile Food Unit  – Process 1 Type Foods

• Roadside Vendor selling Commercially processed packaged food in its original package (Receive-Store-Hold).  Examples of food:  Frozen Steaks, Frozen Poultry, Frozen dinner entrees
• Food Plates packaged at a permitted food establishment, held on the vehicle at temperature control, and served in its packaged form to the consumer
• This type of MFU is required to return daily to a permitted fixed food establishment permitted as a central preparation facility/commissary and servicing area.

Examples of food offered: Packaged Ice Cream, Single Serving Size Packaged Snacks, plate lunch wrapped at Commissary. (We would include the Limited Package Trucks in this group). This is a Low to Medium Risk Category. NET Health Mobile Food Unit Types that fit this category are: Limited Service (Restricted) Mobile Food Unit, and Roadside Vendor)

Full Service Mobile Food Unit – A Mobile Food Unit that prepares opened foods and beverages onboard the vehicle.

Process 1 Type Foods

• Unpackaged food.
• Food Preparation with no cook step (Store-Prepare-Serve).
• This type of Mobile Food Unit is required to return to a permitted fixed food establishment permitted as a central preparation facility/commissary and servicing area daily.

Examples of foods prepared = coffee, snocones, deli sandwiches, salads, Kettle Corn, Raw Shrimp, Nut Roasting

Process 2 Type Foods

• Unpackaged food.
• Preparation for same day service (Store-Prepare-Cook-Serve).
• Reheating of a commercially processed food item (Store-Reheat-Hold-Serve).
• This type of Mobile Food Unit is required to return to a permitted fixed food establishment permitted as a central preparation facility/commissary and servicing area daily.

Examples of food offered = Hot dogs, Grilled Sandwiches, Hamburgers, Soups.

Process 3 Type Foods

• Complex food preparation (Store-Prepare-Cook-Cool-Reheat-Hot Hold-Serve).
• This type of MFU would include menu items that must be prepared pursuant to a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Plan or Variance.
• This type of MFU is required to return to a permitted fixed food establishment permitted as a central preparation facility/commissary and servicing area daily.

Examples of food offered: full menu, food items could be: pulled pork, sushi, chicken salad made from shredded chicken, undercooked animal proteins and more. This is a High Risk Category. NET Health Mobile Food Units that fit into this category are: Full Service (Unrestricted) Mobile Food Unit)

Fixed Food Establishment (FFE) -  

A Food Establishment operating in a permanently constructed structure permitted and approved for the purpose of storing, preparing, serving, packaging, or otherwise providing food for human consumption at the retail level for the ultimate consumer. Fixed Food Establishment does not include a Temporary Food Establishment or Mobile Food Unit.

Central Preparation Facility "Commissary" and Servicing Area -  A facility that is an approved and permitted as the operating base location to which a mobile food unit returns regularly, a minimum of once daily, for such things as vehicle and equipment cleaning, discharging liquid or solid wastes, refilling water tanks and ice bins, advanced preparation, stocking supplies and parking when not in operation.  "Commissary" Central Preparation Facility is a permitted food facility that acts as the base of operations for a mobile food unit. A central preparation facility provides necessary facilities that cannot be provided by the mobile food unit. These services include storage of food, paper goods and supplies, a place to dispose of garbage and grease. A central preparation facility provides a place to fill fresh water tanks and dispose of waste water. It provides a place for overnight parking when the unit is not in operation and provides electrical outlets to support equipment while parked at the commissary. It may provide a place to do some or all food preparation. The services provided will depend on the needs of the mobile food unit.

Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food (TCS) 

means a food or beverage that requires time or temperature controls to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin growth. Refer to the TFER or FDA Food Code for the complete definition. Formerly termed “Potentially Hazardous Food”.