Gardner MA Board Of Health Releases Cease and Desist Letter
The Gardner Board of Health has been praised for acting swiftly when they discovered the illegal food pantry being operated at 25 Baker Street in Gardner. A local resident had not obtained permits or inspections as required. Board of Health Director Micah Blondeau released the actual Cease and Desist letter to Gardner Magazine.
See letter on pdf, CLICK HERE.
Blondeau wrote, “I encourage anyone considering any activities that involve distribution of food to the public to contact their local health department prior to doing so.”
Gardner Board of Health Director Micah Blondeau provided this explanation.
MA food code is a set of minimum standards, which incorporates the 2013 FDA Model Retail Food Code and its 2015 supplement, and is intended to protect the public from foodborne illnesses or injury. These minimum standards are set to ensure that all individuals, regardless of financial means, are being provided with food that is stored, inspected, and handled properly.
A food establishment is defined as: (1) “Food establishment” means an operation that: (a) stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends food directly to the consumer, or otherwise provides FOOD for human consumption such as a restaurant; satellite or catered feeding location; catering operation if the operation provides FOOD directly to a CONSUMER or to a conveyance used to transport people; market; vending location; conveyance used to transport people; institution; or FOOD bank; and (b) relinquishes possession of FOOD to a CONSUMER directly, or indirectly through a delivery service such as home delivery of grocery orders or restaurant takeout orders, or delivery service that is provided by common carriers. (2) “Food establishment” includes: (a) An element of the operation such as a transportation vehicle or a central preparation facility that supplies a vending location or satellite feeding location unless the vending or feeding location is permitted by the REGULATORY AUTHORITY; and (b) An operation that is conducted in a mobile, stationary, temporary, or permanent facility or location; where consumption is on or off the PREMISES; and regardless of whether there is a charge for the FOOD.
6-202.111 Private Homes and Living or Sleeping Quarters, Use Prohibition. A private home, a room used as living or sleeping quarters, or an area directly opening into a room used as living or sleeping quarters may not be used for conducting FOOD ESTABLISHMENT operations.
I encourage anyone considering any activities that involve distribution of food to the public to contact their local health department prior to doing so. We have many great properly permitted resources available for those in need including but not limited to;
Gardner CAC – Gardner CAC food pantry provides groceries for families and individuals (gardner-cac.org)
Gardner MVOC – https://www.veterans-outreach.org/services-and-programs/food-pantry/
Gardner COA – Food Services | Gardner MA (gardner-ma.gov)
Bethany Baptist Church – https://www.bethanygardner.org/community-outreach-programs/
Mount Wachusett Community College – https://mwcc.edu/campus-life/pantry/