MASHPEE, MA – Food trucks have been popular in major cities for years, and are now becoming commonplace at events, festivals, and private functions in Mashpee and throughout Cape Cod.

To protect the public from foodborne illnesses, the Mashpee Board of Health will be considering the adoption of regulations for the licensing of mobile food vendors to be more consistent with the way brick-and-mortar restaurants are permitted.

Mashpee Health Agent Glen E. Harrington has prepared a draft of the regulations for the board to review at its November 6 meeting. Mr. Harrington said that he developed the list of 12 regulations based on experiences with mobile food vendors in Mashpee, as well as after consulting with other health agents in Barnstable County.

The proposed regulations require that operators have mechanical refrigeration for storage of potentially-hazardous foods, have hot and cold running water in three-bay and hand sinks if they are dealing with potentially hazardous foods, and written permission from the landowner where the mobile unit will operate—including confirmation from the Mashpee Zoning Board of Appeals office that mobile food vending is an allowable use in the property. The vendor must also provide the board with the source of drinking and cooking water, and specify on the application the location of sewage disposal for waste tanks.

The vendors must also have restroom facilities available within 200 feet of the mobile unit, and written permission if the restrooms are operated by another business.

In addition, only mobile units that are fully enclosed will be allowed to prepare potentially hazardous food on site at events.

Find the entire article at capenews.net <here>