“This product is home produced and processed, and the production area has not been inspected by the State Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE.”
Canning The preservation process in which foods are processed and sealed in an airtight container (e.g., utilizing heat to create suction for airtight seal).
Commercially
prepared/processed
Food that was processed and packaged in a licensed food processing plant which a regulatory authority inspects and holds jurisdiction.
GRAS Generally Recognized as Safe by FDA standards.
End consumer A person who makes the final purchase of a product or service for personal use.
Hermetically sealed
container
An airtight container that is completely sealed to prevent the entry or escape of oxygen, therefore securing the product against the entry of microorganisms during and after thermal processing.
Home-based vendor (HBV) An individual who prepares and sells food products prepared solely in their primary residence.
Home kitchen The kitchen of a vendor’s primary residence.
Ingredient A food component of a greater whole.
Personal hygiene A set of practices that keep and maintain bodily cleanliness:
  • Handwashing: Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling food
  • Hair: Keep hair restrained
  • Clothing: Wear clean protective clothing
  • Cuts and wounds: Cover all cuts, wounds, or sores with a waterproof dressing
  • Illness: Do not handle food if you are sick or have open/exposed wounds
pH A measure of the acidity and alkalinity of a solution or substance. A food with a pH below 4.6 does not allow for the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
Process authority A person or organization with expert knowledge which is acquired through appropriate training and experience.
Product assessment A comprehensive description of a food product that entails the value of factors such as water activity (Aw), pH, shelf-life, etc.
Regulatory authority A state or local government agency that sets and enforces regulations to protect the public interest.
Quick bread Bread is made without yeast. Baking powder/soda can be added as a leavening agent.
Retail food establishment An operation that “stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends or otherwise provides food for human consumption.” A home-based vendor is not a retail food establishment.