Food Safety for Everyone: Recent Episodes
University of New Hampshire
Food safety specialists answering every day questions from small food processors, farmers, food service workers and consumers about regulations and best practices that prevent foodborne illness.
In this episode, we share exciting information with NH and ME farmers about the Jumpstart to Farm Food Safety program. Our special guest, Rob Machado from UMaine Extension and Mary Choate from UNH Extension are working together on this program to bring expert farm food safety advice and recommendations to small and medium-sized produce farms.
Jumpstart to Farm Food Safety website. Includes “pushbutton” for applying for the Jumpstart program: https://bit.ly/jumpstartfarm
Jumpstart to Farm Food Safety Resources page has many farm food safety links to templates, videos, fact sheets and articles on specific topics farmers may be looking for. For info on writing SOPs, click on “Documents”: https://bit.ly/jumpstartsafety
Mary Choate at UNH Extension
email: mary.choate@unh.edu
phone 603-787-6944
Rob Machado at UMaine Extension
email: robson.machado@maine.edu
phone: 207-581-3144
In episode 2, we touch on the foods that must be made there, and the additional training you may need if producing acidified or fermented products. We talk about ideas on where to find a commercial kitchen to rent and finish off with a story of a canning botulism scare and how and why to calibrate your food thermometer.
Also, one correction: We stated that pepper jelly was one of the foods that must be made in a commercial kitchen. Pepper jelly can be made in a home kitchen after it has had a process review by a Food Processing Authority and been found to be safe.
Show Notes include the websites and resources we mention in the podcast:
NH Department of Health and Human Services- FAQ for Food Processors https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/fp/documents/processing-faqs.pdf
The 5-part series on Selling Homemade Food in NH: https://extension.unh.edu/resource/selling-homemade-food-products-new-hampshire-five-part-fact-sheet-series
Food Processing Authority- Cornell Food Venture Center https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-agritech/partners-institutes/cornell-food-venture-center/cfvc-services-fees
Food Processing Authority- University of Maine - Beth Calder
beth.calder@maine.edu 207-581-2791
https://umaine.edu/foodandagriculture/process-product-review-testing
Food processors
Floor plan review
Royann Bossidy- NH Food Protection Food Safety and Defense Specialist royann.bossidy@dhhs.nh.gov; 603-271-3989
New Hampshire He-P 2300 Sanitary Production and Distribution of Food
Retail food establishments - commercial kitchens
Apply for a New License or Change of Ownership, NH Department of Health and Human Services.
FDA HACCP Principles & Application Guidelines
https://www.fda.gov/food/hazard-analysis-critical-control-point-haccp/haccp-principles-application-guidelines
Introduction To HACCP Friendly webinar for people who are new to HACCP, presented by the Fermentation Association. The principles apply to anyone starting a food business of any kind that requires a HACCP plan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdSZO5q-ITw
Commercial Kitchen businesses in NH:
Genuine Local, Meredith
Creative Chef Kitchens, Derry
Chester Kitchen in Chester, NH
Signs that a Canned Food May be Contaminated with Botulism Toxin
https://www.fda.gov/media/107843/download
Calibrate your THERMOMETER
Two-minute video from Colorado State University: https://bit.ly/calibrateit
PDF: https://bit.ly/calibratepdf
Funding for the Homestead Fact Sheets project by USDA-NIFA Award 2018-70020-28876.
Special appreciation to Royann Bossidy of the NH Food Protection Section for her insights and guidance in putting together the fact sheet series.
Our inaugural episode of Food Safety for Everyone covers the food safety and legal requirements of foods you can make in your home kitchen. We review what is needed under the Homestead Exemption (no license required) and when you will need to get a Homestead H license.
Starting a Homestead Food business is a good way to ease into a food venture. Doing it right and knowing the rules can make expanding your business that much easier.
We finish up the episode with our question of the day and our food safety tip of the day.
Show Notes include the websites and resources we mention in the podcast:
New Hampshire Self-Inspecting Cities & Towns- 2021 https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/fp/documents/selfinspect.pdf
National Center for Home Food Preservation https://nchfp.uga.edu
NH Public Health Lab Food Safety Section. Phone: 603-271-4665
NH Department of Health and Human Services- FAQ for Food Processors https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/fp/documents/processing-faqs.pdf
Labeling example in Selling Homemade Food in NH Part one: https://extension.unh.edu/resource/selling-homemade-food-products-new-hampshire-basics-part-one-fact-sheet
The 5-part series on Selling Homemade Food in NH: https://extension.unh.edu/resource/selling-homemade-food-products-new-hampshire-five-part-fact-sheet-series
Food Processing Authority- Cornell Food Venture Center https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-agritech/partners-institutes/cornell-food-venture-center/cfvc-services-fees
Food Processing Authority- University of Maine - Beth Calder
beth.calder@maine.edu 207-581-2791
https://umaine.edu/foodandagriculture/process-product-review-testing
Food processors
Floor plan review
Homesteads
NH Food Protection Food Safety and Defense Specialist - Royann Bossidy; royann.bossidy@dhhs.nh.gov; 603-271-3989
NH Food Protection Frequently Asked Questions about Homestead Food Businesses
Class H Homestead license ($150) www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/fp/documents/happlication.pdf
New Hampshire He-P 2300 Sanitary Production and Distribution of Food
Retail food establishments - commercial kitchens
Apply for a New License or Change of Ownership, NH Department of Health and Human Services.
Funding for the Homestead Fact Sheets project by USDA-NIFA Award 2018-70020-28876.
Special appreciation to Royann Bossidy of the NH Food Protection Section for her insights and guidance in putting together the fact sheet series.