Food Care

El Paso City Code tit. 9, ch. 9.12, art. VI

in effect

El Paso City Code § 9.12.310 Frozen desserts.

9.12.310 - Frozen desserts. A. All frozen dessert, mix, imitation frozen dessert and nondairy frozen dessert possessed with intent to sell, offered for sale or sold, or stored by an establishment must comply with the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 440, Frozen Desserts Manufacturer Licensing Act and Texas Administrative Code Title 25 Chapter 217 Milk and Dairy Frozen Desserts Manufacturing Specifications and Requirements. B. Mix, frozen dessert, limitation frozen dessert and nondairy frozen dessert containing more than fifty thousand colonies of bacteria per ml on a standard plate count (S.P.C.) or contain more than forty coliform colonies per ml on a coliform test are not acceptable for human consumption. C. Imitation frozen dessert mix (dry), and nondairy frozen dessert mix (dry) containing more than one thousand colonies of bacteria per ml on a standard plate count (S.P.C.) or containing more than ten coliform colonies per ml on a conform test are not acceptable for human consumption. D. Frozen desserts and mixes must be sampled from the dispensing equipment and samples submitted for analysis to a laboratory certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services for the examination of finished Grade A Milk and Milk Products. The director may sample at unannounced intervals at no cost to the establishment. E. Evidence of laboratory analysis must be posted on each frozen dessert dispenser. (Ord. 17162, § 1, 8-11-2009)

El Paso City Code § 9.12.330 Meat and poultry.

9.12.330 - Meat and poultry. Fresh meat, meat byproduct or meat food product is misbranded unless it complies with the recommended name in the publication entitled Uniform Retail Meat Identity Standards, published by the Department of Merchandising, National Livestock and Meat Board, a copy of which, authenticated by the signatures of the city clerk and is on file in the city clerk's office, and is adopted as fully as if copied at length herein. (Ord. 17162, § 1, 8-11-2009)

El Paso City Code § 9.12.340 Ground meat advisory.

9.12.340 - Ground meat advisory. A. Signs in English and Spanish requiring ground meat to be served fully cooked will be conspicuously posted for consumers to read. B. Signs in English shall read: "El Paso's City Ordinance and Texas Law require that ground meat (fish, beef, pork, poultry, etc.) must be consumed fully cooked due to potential health risks associated with consumption of these products when not fully cooked. If you have special health risks consult your physician." C. Signs in Spanish shall read: "La ley de la ciudad de El Paso, Texas require que las carnes molidas (pescado, res, puerco, pollo, etc.) sean consumidas bien cocidas debido a riesgos asociados si estos alimentos no estan bien cocidos. Si tuviese alguna duda consulte a su medico." D. Signs shall be made available by the director at the cost of printing and handling identified in the adopted budget resolution for the current fiscal year or other appropriately adopted resolution by the city council. E. An establishment shall not offer ground meat cooked other than well-done for human consumption, unless specifically requested by the consumer. "Well-done" shall be measured as the temperature specified in the Texas Food Safety Rules. (Ord. 17162, § 1, 8-11-2009)

El Paso City Code § 9.12.360 Storage—Refrigerated.

9.12.360 - Storage—Refrigerated. Frozen foods shall be kept frozen and shall be stored at a temperature of minus eighteen degrees Celsius (zero degrees Fahrenheit) or below. (Ord. 17162, § 1, 8-11-2009)

El Paso City Code § 9.12.400 Transportation.

9.12.400 - Transportation. A. During transportation, food and food utensils shall be kept in covered containers, completely wrapped or packaged so as to be protected from contamination. Foods in original individual packages do not need to be over wrapped or covered if the original package has not been torn or broken. During transportation, including transportation to another location for service or catering operations, food shall meet the requirements relating to food protection and food storage. B. All vehicles, used for transporting food within the city must be clearly marked with letters not less than two inches high, indicating the name, address, city and state of the establishment. Mobile establishments must be marked with permit number issued by the director. In the case of an establishment with a readily recognizable registered trademark, only the trademark, city and state are necessary. All vehicles transporting foods requiring refrigeration must be provided with a mechanical refrigeration unit capable of maintaining the internal temperature of the food product at (five degrees Celsius or forty-one degrees Fahrenheit or below). C. All vehicles transporting food requiring hot holding must be provided with hot holding units capable of maintaining the internal temperature of the food product at fifty-seven degrees Celsius or one hundred and thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit or above. (Ord. 17162, § 1, 8-11-2009)

Source: City of El Paso, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/el_paso/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9HESA_CH9.12FOFOHAES_ARTVIFOCAFetched: 10/28/2026