PLEASE NOTE: There is no "form" on this website that implies application for a "food waiver" to use outside food. All parties must comply with the food waiver process outlined below in order to utilize food other than Auxiliary Enterprises or The Center for Student Businesses (CSB) food establishment food. Student Groups are to use the Campus Pulse Registration on-line process. All others are to contact Alyssa Rusiecki directly at: foodwaiver@ehs.umass.edu.
The University of Massachusetts Dining/Catering Services (a.k.a. Auxiliary Enterprises) and the office of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) have oversight for University provided food served on campus. It is required that University Catering/Dining or a Center for Student Business affiliated food business provides all the food on campus. The only exception is when University Catering/Dining or a Center for Student food business is not able to provide your food. When you are requesting this exception, you must follow the Food Waiver policy and registration process and requirements found in the food waiver Considerations Chart.
Non-TCS ( Non-Time/Temperature Control for Safety) Foods
Non-TCS Foods include: Pre-packaged Retail Snacks & Commercial Doughnuts. Details include: Pre-packaged snack food, not needing heating or cooling for food safety, including commercial doughnuts and cookies from licensed food establishments. All ingredients and allergens must be labeled. No re-packaging allowed. The Non-TCS food events are managed by the Student Activities and Involvement (SAI) Scheduling Coordinator. Find Student Life contacts.
1. Pre-Packaged Foods
Pre-packaged foods must be purchased at a licensed commercial food establishment.
See Factsheet here: Non-TCS food & pre-package food
Foods Allowed | Max Attendees | Oversight | Required Training | ServSafe | Volunteer to Attendee Ratio | Hand Washing | Electricity | Ware Washing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre-packaged candy, bags of chips, commercial doughnuts/cookies, bottled soda and juice. | n/a | SAI | n/a | No | 1/25 | Hand sanitizing wipes acceptable | No | No |
2. Concessions
Concessions include cotton candy and popcorn from the Student Activities office.
See Factsheet here: Concessions
Foods Allowed | Max Attendees | Oversight | Required Training | ServSafe | Volunteer to Attendee Ratio | Hand Washing | Electricity | Ware Washing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cotton candy and popcorn | n/a | SAI | n/a | No | 1/25 | Hand sanitizing wipes acceptable | Yes | No |
3. Bake Sales
Bake Sales are for non-TCS foods only.
See Factsheet here: Bake Sales
Foods Allowed | Max Attendees | Oversight | Required Training | ServSafe | Volunteer to Attendee Ratio | Hand Washing | Electricity | Ware Washing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bake sales - include cookies, brownies, doughnuts, muffins, cakes, and turnovers | n/a | SAI | UMass Training / OWL | No | 1/25 | Hand sanitizing wipes acceptable | No | No |
Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) Foods
Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) Foods are foods that require time and temperature control for safety—also known as PHFs (potentially hazardous foods). TCS foods include: milk and dairy products, eggs, meat (beef, pork, and lamb), poultry, fish, shellfish and crustaceans, baked potatoes, tofu or other soy protein, sprouts and sprout seeds, sliced melons, cut tomatoes, cut fruit, cut vegetables, cut leafy greens, untreated garlic (or other herb or spice)-and-oil mixtures, and cooked rice, beans, and vegetables.
4. Potluck: Less than 10 People
Potluck meals are communal meals in which everyone brings a small amount of food to share.
See Factsheet here: Potluck Meals
Foods Allowed | Max Attendees | Oversight | Required Training | ServSafe | Volunteer to Attendee Ratio | Hand Washing | Electricity | Ware Washing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unlimited | < 10 people | SAI |
ServSafe or equivalent / Allergy |
Yes | 1/10 | Hand sanitizing wipes acceptable | Yes | No |
5. Simple BBQ (Barbeque assisted by Auxiliary): Less Than 100 People
Simple BBQs are same day food preparation with cook and reheat steps. No raw animal foods allowed.
See Factsheet here: Barbecues
Foods Allowed | Max Attendees | Oversight | Required Training | ServSafe | Volunteer to Attendee Ratio | Hand Washing | Electricity | Ware Washing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre-cut watermelon, cheese, buns/rolls, water/soda, chips, condiments. Pre-cooked sausage, hotdogs, and veggie burgers |
<100 people | AUX | ServSafe / Allergy (AUX) | Yes | 1/15 | Temporary HW station set up | No | Single use / single service equipment and utensils. Sanitizing wipes must be available. |
6. Complex BBQ (Barbeque assisted by Auxiliary): Less Than 100 People
Complex BBQs are same day food preparation with cook and reheat steps. Raw animal foods allowed.
See Factsheet here: Barbecues
Foods Allowed | Max Attendees | Oversight | Required Training | ServSafe | Volunteer to Attendee Ratio | Hand Washing | Electricity | Ware Washing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Same as those foods allowed from #5 above plus pre-formed hamburgers, pre-cut pork roast or ribs, pre-cut chicken, etc. | <100 people | AUX | ServSafe / Allergy (AUX) | Yes | 1/10 | Temporary HW stations with hot water. Two HW stations need for >50 attendees | Yes | Commercial dish machine or 3-bay sink within 100 feet. |
7. Other: (TCS Foods with Auxiliary Enterprises Assistance)
Auxiliary Assistance applies to all other TCS food events not listed above.
Foods Allowed | Max Attendees | Oversight | Required Training | ServSafe | Volunteer to Attendee Ratio | Hand Washing | Electricity | Ware Washing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unlimited | n/a | AUX | Aux Trainer Chef ServSafe & Allergy | Yes | Unlimited | Hand washing station(s) required | Yes | Commercial dish machine or 3-bay sink |
8. Outside Caterer/Vendor
Catering by outside caterers/vendors must be located within a 30-minutes travel time from UMass Amherst (if supplying TCS foods), must be a licensed food establishment maintaining liability insurance for $1,000,000 and approved "Annual Caterer/Vendor Application" and "Notification" and are in compliance with 105 CMR 590.000.
See Factsheet here: Outside Caterer/Vendor
Foods Allowed | Max Attendees | Oversight | Required Training | ServSafe | Volunteer to Attendee Ratio | Hand Washing | Electricity | Ware Washing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unlimited | < 300 | SAI/ AUX | OWL for servers | Yes | 1/10 | Hand sanitizing wipes acceptable | Yes | No |
Contacts
- Alyssa Rusiecki, Assistant Director for Environmental Health at 413-545-5110 or arusiecki@umass.edu
- Student Groups and Group Members on the Food Waiver Process or Campus Pulse Process: Contact your Student Group Advisor at 413-545-3600. For questions about your advisor or the Campus Pulse process, please contact Tom Shea at the Student Activities and Involvement Office at tashea@umass.edu.
- Non-Student Groups and Other Non-Student Engagement, SGA (Student Government Association), and GSS (Graduate Student Senate) Requests: Send an email request to foodwaiver@ehs.umass.edu.
Student Food Safety Owl Training
Login here for OWL food safety training
AUX ServSafe Manager Training
For ServSafe Manager Training: Contact Auxiliary Enterprises Administrative Assistant, Kara Leistyna at 413-545-2472, or email kleistyna@umass.edu.
Campus Pulse Submittal Process
If you are requesting a Bake Sale fund-raiser, go to Training (on this EH&S website), OWL trainings, and pick Bake Sale food safety training. All food handlers must have their Certificates of Completion so that they can be uploaded or emailed to ehsfoodwaiver@umass.edu in order to complete submittal. Selling commercially prepared and pre-packaged doughnuts does not require the completion of O.W.L. Bake Sale food safety training.
1) Campus Pulse Home website
2) Go to the student group’s Campus Pulse page, create an event
3) Then submit the event form, answering all food related questions and upload or email the training certificates.