MEHKO Glossary

Government forms use technical words. Here is what they mean. We show the official term so you recognize it on County forms.

MEHKO

Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation. The permit that lets you cook and sell meals from your home kitchen.

DEHQ

Department of Environmental Health and Quality. The San Diego County office that issues MEHKO permits and does inspections.

CRFC

California Retail Food Code. The State law with the food-safety rules for all food businesses, including MEHKOs.

AB 626

The 2018 State law that created MEHKOs.

SOP

Standard Operating Procedures. The 7-page County form where you describe your menu, hours, how you cook, store, clean, and deliver. It is part of your application.

Meal

Food for one customer, one sitting. Can be a main dish, sides, drinks, baked goods, or dessert — or just one of those. One lunch box is one meal.

Food Safety Manager Certificate

The manager-level food-safety certificate. You must pass this exam before you apply. Valid five years.

Food Handler Card

The basic food-safety card. Anyone who helps you handle food needs one. Valid three years.

Primary residence

The home you actually live in. A second home or vacation home does not count.

Gross annual sales

Total money from sales before any expenses. MEHKOs have a yearly limit.

Direct to consumer

Selling to the person who eats the food. Not to a store, restaurant, or wholesaler.

Cottage Food Operation (CFO)

The other home-food permit, for shelf-stable food like bread and jam. Not for fresh meals.

HACCP

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point. A special food-safety plan for risky methods like curing, canning, fermenting, and sous vide. MEHKOs cannot use methods that need one.

Potentially hazardous food / TCS food

Food that must be kept hot or cold to be safe: meat, seafood, cooked rice, dairy, cut melon. Newer materials say “TCS” (Time/Temperature Control for Safety). Same thing.

Hot holding

Keeping cooked food at 135°F or above until served.

Cold holding

Keeping food at 41°F or below.

Probe thermometer

A metal-stem thermometer you stick into food to check its temperature. Required.

Sanitize

Kill germs on a surface after you clean it. Cleaning removes dirt; sanitizing kills germs. Both are required.

FOG

Fats, oils, and grease. Never pour them down the drain. Cool them and put them in the trash.

IFSI

Internet Food Service Intermediary. A State-registered online ordering platform that MEHKOs may use to take orders. Delivery is still by you.

CDTFA

California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. The State agency for sales tax. You register with them to get a seller’s permit.

Seller’s permit

Your sales-tax registration with CDTFA. Free.

“Made in a Home Kitchen”

The exact words that must appear on every MEHKO ad, along with your permit number.

Private well

Water from your own well instead of the city water system. If you have one, you need a water test with your application.

Health permit

The County’s official approval to operate. Displayed in your home during business hours. Renewed yearly.

SDFoodInfo.org

The County’s public website where anyone can look up a permitted food business and its inspection reports.