Food Sanitation Procedures and Guidelines

In the interest of safety, food sanitation and health, the Fire and Life Safety Services (FLSS) has established the following procedures and guidelines for the hiring/employing of “outside” vendors/caterers for the purpose of catering an event on the Syracuse University campus.

FLSS and the Onondaga County Health Department work together to ensure that the proper New York State Health Department and Onondaga County laws, rules and regulations regarding food sanitation on the Syracuse University campus are met and followed with no exceptions.

Procedures

Please read and understand the following procedures and guidelines when planning an event that requires catering or when hiring an “outside” caterer:

  1. All food and beverage services on campus are to be provided by Syracuse University Catering Services in compliance with New York State Law, the Onondaga County Health Department, and the Syracuse University Policy on Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Tobacco.
  2. If the catering manager concludes that Syracuse University Catering cannot accommodate the food needs of an organization, an Onondaga County licensed food service establishment is permitted to provide food. Syracuse University Catering Services makes the arrangements for the food provided by the licensed food service establishment.
  3. FLSS must be notified by the department or group that will be hiring or has hired an outside caterer three (3) weeks prior to the date of the event or within twenty-four (24) hours of hiring the caterer. No changes will be allowed three (3) weeks prior to the event.
    1. Notification should be sent to: Fire and Life Safety Services Health and Food Sanitation, Attn: Brian O’Hara and/or John Rossiter, 029 Lyman Hall, Syracuse, New York 13244
    2. Please provide the following specific information regarding the caterer being hired or to be hired and the event:
      • Business Name
      • Business Address
      • Phone Number (Day and Evening)
      • Health Permit Number
      • Contact Person(s)
      • Date of Event
      • Location of Event
      • Specific Times
      • Type of Event
      • Type of Food being served
      • Approximate number of people attending
  4. Any “outside” caterer that is hired to cater an event on the Syracuse University campus must have a health certificate on file with the Onondaga County Health Department.
  5. Before any catering is performed on the University’s premises, certificates of insurance for at least the coverage listed below must be issued and sent to the Office of Institutional Risk Management (621 Skytop Rd, Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13244):
    1. Commercial General Liability $1,000,000 per occurrence, and $2,000,000 aggregate.
    2. Automobile Liability covering owned, non-owned and hired vehicles: $1,000,000 combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage.
    3. NYS Workers’ Compensation and Employers Liability.
    4. NYS Statutory Disability Benefits.
    5. Liquor Legal Insurance if alcohol will be served.
    6. Syracuse University shall be named as an additional insured (indicate event or project on certificate)
    7. 30 day notice for cancellation, non-renewal or coverage reduction.
  6. FLSS has the right to revoke the catering privileges of the “outside” caterer if the insurance requirements are not satisfactory to the University, and if the caterer does not possess the proper health certificates with the Onondaga County Health Department. FLSS will be on-hand at the beginning of the event to ensure that all New York State and Onondaga County Health Department Food Sanitation laws, rules and regulations are met and followed.
  7. FLSS reserves the right to contact the Onondaga County Health Department regarding any hazardous and/or emergency food sanitation issues/situations that may occur.

Guidelines

  1. Caterer must have a valid food service permit with the Onondaga County Health Department.
  2. The caterer must provide an estimated time of arrival to the event. The caterer shall arrive within a half-hour of the estimated time of arrival.
  3. The caterer must provide proper serving and heating equipment.
  4. Food temperatures will be checked immediately upon the food arriving at the event.
  5. Temperature of the food must be within the proper guidelines: Cold = 45° or Below, Hot = 140° or Above
  6. Servers must provide a barrier between bare skin and food.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these procedures and guidelines, compiled by Fire and Life Safety Services and the Onondaga County Health Department, please contact:

Fire and Life Safety Services
Health and Food Sanitation
Attn: Brian O’Hara and/or John Rossiter
029 Lyman Hall
Syracuse, New York 13244

Phone Number: 315.443.7567 and/or 315.443.5475
Fax Number: 315.443.5288

After Normal Business Hours:
315.436.1556 and/or 315.391.1689