Division of Environmental Health Food Safety and Sanitation Program

Description: A facility that operates under USDA inspection and meets federal requirements can sell or use the meat and meat products that are processed at the facility for human consumption. This includes inspected activities such as

• Livestock slaughter and processing; and
• Purchasing meat or meat products that were processed under USDA inspection at another facility and further processing the meat or meat products under USDA inspection at this facility.

Inspected meat and meat products from the facility can be sold wholesale. An exemption in the Alaska Food Code (18 AAC 31.020(f)(3)(b)(i)) also allows the facility's inspected meat and meat products to be sold at an on-site retail counter or sales area at the facility. A state food permit or inspection is not required for these retail sales.

Type of Operation: Meat processing facility and/or livestock slaughter establishment

Food Permit: No, a state food permit is not required

Inspections:

• Federal: Yes, federal inspection by USDA is required
• State: No, state inspection is not required

Species: Amenable and non-amenable species are allowed

Selling Methods:

• Allowed: Retail sales that are on-site at the facility are allowed
• Allowed: Wholesale is allowed

Can Meat and Meat Products Be Sold or Used Under a Food Permit? Yes, the meat and meat products that are processed and sold under this option can be sold or used under a regulated establishment's food permit. This facility is an approved source under the Alaska Food Code.

Description: Homemade food producers that have a facility that operates under USDA inspection and meets federal requirements can sell or use the meat and meat products that are processed at the facility for human consumption under Alaska's Exemption for Homemade Food (AS 17.20.332). This includes inspected activities such as

• Livestock slaughter and processing; and
• Purchasing meat or meat products that were processed under USDA inspection at another facility and further processing the meat or meat products under USDA inspection at this facility.

Inspected meat and meat products from the facility cannot be sold wholesale under the homemade food exemption. Food sold under the homemade food exemption is for the personal use of the buyer. Direct-to-consumer retail sales by the processor of the meat or meat products are allowed. A state food permit or inspection is not required for these retail sales.

Type of Operation: Meat processing facility and/or livestock slaughter establishment

Food Permit: No, a state food permit is not required

Inspections:

• Federal: Yes, federal inspection by USDA is required
• State: No, state inspection is not required

Species: Limited to the amenable species of cattle, sheep, swine, and goats

Selling Methods:

• Allowed: Retail sales that are direct-to-consumer are allowed
• Not Allowed: Wholesale is not allowed
• Not Allowed: Sales by anyone who is not the processor of the meat or meat product are not allowed
• Not Allowed: Using the meat or meat product as an ingredient in a food that is produced and sold by anyone other than the processor of the meat or meat product is not allowed

Can Meat and Meat Products Be Sold or Used Under a Food Permit? No, the meat and meat products that are processed and sold under this option cannot be sold or used under a regulated establishment's food permit. This facility is not an approved source under the Alaska Food Code and the homemade food exemption does not allow homemade food to be sold or used under a food establishment permit.

Notes:

• Under this option, the homemade food producer must follow
  1. The requirements of federal law, including USDA inspection of meat and meat products; and
  2. The requirements of the Alaska homemade food exemption, including ingredients, display, signs, consumer statements, etc.
• This does not allow homemade food producers to purchase USDA-inspected meat or meat products, further process meat or meat products, and sell the further-processed meat or meat products without federal inspection. Any further processing of USDA-inspected meat or meat products must be done under USDA inspection or a USDA inspection exemption.
• USDA may allow products to be sold wholesale, but the homemade food exemption does not. The homemade food exemption requires that food sold under the exemption is sold for the personal use of the buyer; the buyer cannot re-sell food that is sold under the homemade food exemption or use it as an ingredient in another product that is sold.
• USDA may allow more species, but the homemade food exemption limits species to cattle, sheep, swine, and goats.
• Option 1 has the same inspection requirements and allows more species, allows wholesale, and does not have any additional state requirements for homemade food signs, consumer statements, etc.

Description: Retail food establishments that have a state food permit under the Alaska Food Code (18 AAC 31) can purchase USDA-inspected meat or meat products and further process the meat or meat products at their retail establishment to sell or use for human consumption.

The original meat or meat products must be from a facility operating under USDA inspection and the meat or meat products that are further processed at the retail establishment must be produced and sold according to the USDA inspection exemption for retail operations and the Alaska Food Code exemption for meat processing at retail establishments (18 AAC 31.770(b)).

Type of Operation: A retail food establishment that has a state food permit

Food Permit: Yes, the retail establishment is required to have a state food permit (food service or market)

Inspections:

• Federal: Yes, federal inspection by USDA is required for the meat or meat products the retail establishment purchases for further processing; meat or meat products that are further processed at the retail establishment are exempt and are not inspected by USDA
• State: Yes, state inspection is required

Species: Amenable and non-amenable species are allowed

Selling Methods:

• Allowed: Retail sales that are on-site at the retail establishment are allowed
• Allowed: Limited wholesale at the retail establishment is allowed and must meet USDA requirements and annual limits

Can Meat and Meat Products Be Sold or Used Under a Food Permit? Yes, the meat and meat products that are processed and sold under this option can be sold or used under a regulated establishment's food permit. This facility is an approved source under the Alaska Food Code.

Notes:

• This allows retail food establishments that have a state food permit to purchase USDA-inspected meat or meat products, further process the meat or meat products at their retail establishment, and sell or use the further-processed meat or meat products at their establishment. By following the USDA inspection exemption for retail operations, the establishment is exempt from having USDA inspect the further-processed meat or meat products that are produced at the establishment.
• The establishment must have a retail food permit (food service or market) and inspection by the state. The establishment also needs to follow
  1. The requirements of the federal meat inspection exemption for retail operations; and
  2. The requirements of the Alaska Food Code (18 AAC 31).
• The USDA meat inspection exemption for retail operations has requirements and limits for wholesaling exempt meat and meat products. Contact USDA for more information.

Description: Homemade food producers that have a USDA-approved retail facility can purchase USDA-inspected meat or meat products and further process the meat or meat products as part of their approved retail operation to sell or use for human consumption under Alaska's Exemption for Homemade Food (AS 17.20.332).

The original meat or meat products must be from a facility operating under USDA inspection and the meat or meat products that are further processed as part of the approved retail operation must be produced and sold according to the USDA inspection exemption for retail operations and must also meet state requirements for sale under the homemade food exemption, including signs, consumer information, and selling methods.

Type of Operation: A retail facility that is approved by the USDA for the retail inspection exemption

Food Permit: No, a state food permit is not required

Inspections:

• Federal: Yes, federal inspection by USDA is required for the meat or meat products the retail facility purchases for further processing; meat or meat products that are further processed at the retail facility are exempt and are not inspected by USDA
• State: No, state inspection is not required

Species: Limited to the amenable species of cattle, sheep, swine, and goats

Selling Methods:

• Allowed: Retail sales that are direct-to-consumer and on-site at the approved retail facility are allowed
• Not Allowed: Wholesale is not allowed
• Not Allowed: Sales at any location other than the approved retail operation are not allowed
• Not Allowed: Sales by anyone who is not the processor of the meat or meat product are not allowed
• Not Allowed: Using the meat or meat product as an ingredient in a food that is produced and sold by anyone other than the processor of the meat or meat product is not allowed

Can Meat and Meat Products Be Sold or Used Under a Food Permit? No, the meat and meat products that are processed and sold under this option cannot be sold or used under a regulated establishment's food permit. This facility is not an approved source under the Alaska Food Code and the homemade food exemption does not allow homemade food to be sold or used under a food establishment permit.

Notes:

• This allows homemade food producers with a USDA-approved retail facility to purchase USDA-inspected meat or meat products, further process the meat or meat products as part of their approved retail operation, and sell or use the further-processed meat or meat products at their approved retail operation. By following the USDA inspection exemption for retail operations, the producer is exempt from having USDA inspect the further-processed meat or meat products that are produced as part of the approved retail operation. The meat and meat products must meet federal requirements for the inspection exemption and state requirements for sale under the homemade food exemption, including only selling homemade food for the personal use of the buyer.
• Homemade food producers will need to check with USDA to confirm that their retail operation meets federal requirements and is an approved operation for this exemption. Contact the USDA FSIS Denver Office (District 15) for more information.
• Under this option, the homemade food producer must follow
  1. The requirements of the federal meat inspection exemption for retail operations; and
  2. The requirements of the Alaska homemade food exemption, including ingredients, display, signs, consumer statements, etc.
• USDA may allow certain products to be sold wholesale, but the homemade food exemption does not. The homemade food exemption requires that food sold under the exemption is sold for the personal use of the buyer; the buyer cannot re-sell food that is sold under the homemade food exemption or use it as an ingredient in another product that is sold.
• USDA may allow more species, but the homemade food exemption limits species to cattle, sheep, swine, and goats.

Description: Food processing establishments that have a state food permit under the Alaska Food Code (18 AAC 31) can use meat or meat products from an approved source as ingredients in products that are processed and sold by the establishment for human consumption. These products include things like frozen pepperoni pizzas, breakfast burritos with sausage, and canned beef soup. Approved sources of meat and meat products are described in the Alaska Food Code (18 AAC 31).

Inspected products from the processing establishment can be sold wholesale. An exemption in the Alaska Food Code (18 AAC 31.020(f)(3)(b)(i)) also allows the establishment's inspected products to be sold at an on-site retail counter or sales area at the facility. A state food permit or inspection is not required for these retail sales.

Type of Operation: Food processing establishment that has a state food permit

Food Permit: Yes, the processing establishment is required to have a state food permit for wholesale processing

Inspections:

• Federal: Varies, federal inspection by USDA or FDA may be required
• State: Yes, state inspection is required

Species: Amenable and non-amenable species are allowed

Selling Methods:

• Allowed: Retail sales that are on-site at the processing establishment are allowed
• Allowed: Wholesale is allowed

Can Meat and Meat Products Be Sold or Used Under a Food Permit? Yes, food products that are processed and sold under this option can be sold or used under a regulated establishment's food permit. This facility is an approved source under the Alaska Food Code.

Notes:

• Food processing establishments that want to process and sell a food product that contains meat or meat products will need to contact Food Safety and Sanitation for more information. There are a number of factors that are taken into consideration to determine whether federal inspection by USDA or FDA is required, including the species and type of meat being used as an ingredient, the type of product being processed, and the percentage of the final product that will be made up of meat or meat products.
• The establishment must have a food processing permit and inspection by the state. The establishment also needs to follow
  1. The requirements of federal law, including USDA or FDA inspection of food products that contain meat or meat products; and
  2. The requirements of the Alaska Food Code (18 AAC 31).