Links to some handy food
health related websites:
www.healthguideusa.org/local_health_departments.htm
This site is a huge index of all the county health departments in every state in the USA.
- It’s a big site! Go the the A-Z index. Then to the “S” in the Index. It provides a list of links to all the various State health departments.
- Another big site. Lots of info. Click on the button for “Federal and State Gov’t Agencies”. Then go down to the heading entitled “State and Local Gov’t Agencies”. If your state isn’t listed click on the first subheading “Overall Listing of State, County and territory Listings”. There you will find a comprehensive contact list.
Information for foodservice professionals in 14 languages!
Excellent information on safe food handling, meat storage guidelines, and background info on the meat products you will be selling. Just type “hot dog” in the search box in the upper left corner of the home page.
Another large site with tons of information. Go to the “Special Interest” area in the lower right corner. Check out “Starting a Food Business”. For detailed info on laws and codes check out “Fed/State Food Programs” go to “Retail Food Protection” click on “Regulations, Codes and Code Interpretation”.
Click on “Food Safety”. Many other useful links.
www.idph.state.il.us/about/fdd/fddintro.htm
This Illinois Health Department site has some excellent info on food safety and printable charts on food temperature requirements.
For Canadian Hot Dog Stand Operators
Canadian Federal Government Health site (Health Canada). In English or French.
Go to the A-Z index to “F”. Click on “Food Safety”, then click on “Safe Food Handling”.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) site. In English or French.
To find your local food health authority anywhere in Canada follow these instructions: Click on “Food”, then “Retail Food”, then “Information for Restauranteurs and Food Service Operators”, then “Local Inspection Authority”.
Also go to A-Z Index, Then click on “Food”, then go to “F” for “Food Safety Tips”. Good info at “Barbecuing”.
This site has some really good plain language tips for a hot dog cart operator. Click on “Living”. Click on “Public Health” on the drop down menu. Then click on the “A-Z Index”. Scroll down to the heading “Hot Dog Cart Requirements”. Good info!
Click on “Health” under the heading Living in Toronto. Click on the A-Z Index. Scroll down to the heading “Hot Dog Carts – Requirements for”. Excellent information in a practical easy to read format!
Check under Health Information Sheets for Hot Dog Carts.
A nice summary of basic rules for hot dog stand operators in Ontario, Canada.
Links to State Health Departments
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Texas
www.dshs.state.tx.us/foodestablishments
Virginia
West Virginia
Food Product Suppliers
Buns: Often the best idea is to source these from a local bakery or discount grocery chain. Otherwise you can order your buns from a national wholesale supplier. Here’s a list:
Rosen’s Buns
Stroehmann Weston bakeries
Wonder Bread
Weiners: The following list is a selection in alphabetical order of various American hot dog cart meat suppliers in the U.S. Just click on the links provided and find a distributor or warehouse nearest you.
Bar-S
Cloverdale
Dietz & Watson
Farmland Foods
Hebrew National
Hormel Foods
Oscar Mayer
Sabrett
Usinger’s
Vienna beef
Wimmer’s
CANADIAN SUPPLIERS:
Kretschmar
Maple Lodge Farms
Schneider Foods
Shopsy’s
Foil Hot Dog Bags: These are a specialty item that can be sourced through a restaurant supply company or from a specialty paper manufacturer. Here is a list of potential suppliers.
Ace Mart Restaurant Supply
Atlanta Concession Supply
Food Service Direct
International Products
Instawares Restaurant Supply
Snappy Brand
Other Food and Hot Dog Related Sites:
