InfoBoard
Consumer Food Program
The Consumer Food Program is responsible for regulating the operation of approximately 4,600 retail food facilities in Fresno County. Consumer Food Program activities include the:
- Permitting and inspecting retail food businesses including restaurants, markets, school cafeterias, bakeries, bars, mobile food vendors, and special event food booths.
- Review of construction plans and inspections of new and remodeled food facilities.
- Investigation of complaints regarding violations of the California Retail Food Code including unsanitary conditions.
- Investigation of suspected foodborne illnesses.
Microenterprise Home Kitchen Update July 2026
Micro-Enterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs)
MEHKOs are NOT APPROVED in Fresno County
What is MEHKO?
- In 2019, California approved a new category of Food Facility that operates from a private residence allowing dine-in, take-out, or delivery. Operations are limited to 30 meals per day, and 90 meals per week, with a maximum gross annual sales limit of $100k. Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations
- The state MEHKO law gave local health jurisdictions (mostly counties, but a couple of cities have their own Health Departments) the choice to opt-in to issue MEHKO permits.
- Currently, only 18 of 58 CA health jurisdictions allow MEHKO permitting.
What happened recently in Fresno County?
- Environmental Health spent time looking into MEHKO - contacting other counties that have a MEHKO program, meeting with local cities and related entities about potential nuisances, meeting with local stakeholders such as the Restaurant Association and the Community Based Organization- Cultiva la Salud, evaluating infrastructure for MEHKO inspections, and drafting a local ordinance for a MEHKO pilot program in Fresno County.
- On Tuesday July 14, 2026, our Board of Supervisors voted and decided NOT to proceed with the MEHKO pilot program.
What does this mean?
- Home based food permits are still limited to the Cottage Food Program, which only allows shelf-stable foods from a list of specific Approved Foods. Cottage Food Operations
- MEHKO permits are NOT available in Fresno County.
- Unpermitted preparation and vending of foods from home continues to be illegal and can result in Enforcement Action.
Be Smart. Be Safe
Staff conducts over 11,000 routine inspections yearly. The purpose of these inspections is to ensure that the facilities are operating in compliance with the standards set forth in the California Health and Safety Code for the protection of the public health and safety.
California Food Handler Card Information
The California Retail Food Code or CalCode, is an excerpt from the California Health and Safety Code that specifies the regulations and standards that must be met by the retail food facilities.
California Retail Food Code