FOOD SERVICE F-310 11-18-22 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: FOOD SERVICE NO: F-310
FILE: FOOD SERVICE
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01-01-93 REVISED: 12-25-94, 06-04-95, 08-03-95, 04-01-96, 06-01-00,
03-01-10, 10-01-21
AUTHORITY: Sheriff M. Mims APPROVED BY: Assistant Sheriff S. McComas
REFERENCE: California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Sections 1083, 1240, 1241,
1242, 1243, 1245, 1247 and 1248; California Retail Food Code (Health and Safety
Code Sections 113700 et seq.); and Fresno County Salary Resolution, Section
1011.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy is to establish and maintain a method of providing nutritiously
balanced meals for all inmates in the custody of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office.
POLICY:
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division to contract with a food
service provider to prepare and deliver all meals. The meals are to be prepared at the
County's Central Kitchen facility and delivered at the time as designated by the Sheriff's
Office. The contracted food service manager shall be responsible to ensure that
appropriate work assignments are made and food handlers are adequately supervised.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that the kitchen facilities,
sanitation, food preparation, service, and storage shall comply to standards set forth in
the California Retail Food Code (Health and Safety Code Sections 113700 et seq.).
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that all menus for meals
served to inmates shall be planned at least one (1) month in advance. The menus shall
be in compliance with the requirements set forth in the California Code of Regulations.
The meals shall be evaluated for nutritional value and approved in advance by a
registered dietitian at least annually.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that the same daily menu
shall be served at all Jail facilities.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that all inmates in custody,
with the exception of those on a special disciplinary separation diet, will be provided with
the opportunity to consume three (3) meals during every twenty-four (24) hour period. At
least one of these meals shall include hot food.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: FOOD SERVICE NO: F-310
FILE: FOOD SERVICE
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that a minimum of fifteen
(15) minutes shall be allowed for the actual consumption of each meal, except for those
inmates on medical diets where a physician has prescribed additional time.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that correctional staff
shall be entitled to eat one (1) meal during each shift, while on-duty.
PROCEDURES:
I. MEAL COUNT
A. Food service staff is responsible to contact Booking and the security officers
on each housing floor to obtain the total number of meals needed for each
location.
1. Food service staff will call to obtain the number of meals required for the
following day's breakfast and lunch at approximately 2200-2300 hours
(i.e., prior to midnight). The security officer shall provide the floor count
and also indicate the number of inmates prescribed a diabetic diet who
have been scheduled for court.
2. Food service staff will call to obtain the number of meals required for that
day's dinner meal by 1200 hours.
3. If a significant change in the meal count occurs, the security officer shall
provide food service staff with a final exact meal count one (1) hour prior
to the schedule serving of the meal.
B. Food Services is provided with a daily list of all inmates who receive special
diets.
II. FOOD SERVICE STAFF RESPONSIBILITY
A. Under the direction of the food service manager, the feed operations will
consist of preparing the meal from the approved menu, apportioning the
food into equal serving portions, and delivering the food to designated
locations for inmate consumption. The food shall be delivered within fifteen
(15) minutes of the designated time.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: FOOD SERVICE NO: F-310
FILE: FOOD SERVICE
B. Food employees shall maintain proper hygiene and use nonlatex utensils
such as scoops, forks, tongs, paper wrappers, gloves, or other implements
to prepare and assemble the meals. All food employees preparing, serving,
or handling food or utensils shall wear hair restraints, such as hats, hair
coverings, or hairnets.
C. Every effort shall be made to prevent food from mixing together when
serving, transporting and delivering the food trays to the housing units.
D. The dinner meal will include hot food and shall be served at a minimum of
135°F. Cold food shall be kept at 41 OF or below. The temperatures shall
be taken at the time the food is served in the kitchen.
E. Upon completion of feeding, the trays shall be gathered by inmate workers
supervised by correctional officers. Food service staff shall retrieve the
trays and ensure they are properly cleaned prior to re-use.
III. FREQUENCY OF SERVING
A. Meals are normally distributed twice each day. The meals are transported
and delivered to Booking and each housing floor by food service staff.
1. BREAKFAST - serving commences at approximately 0430 hours and
should be completed by 0600 hours.
2. LUNCH - sack lunches are distributed with the breakfast meal.
Exceptions are made for diabetic lunches which are delivered and
served between the hours of 0930-1100 each day. (Supplemental
pregnancy snacks are delivered and served at that time, as well.)
3. DINNER - serving commences at approximately 1630 hours and should
be completed by 1915 hours.
B. Supplemental food must be served to inmates if more than fourteen (14)
hours pass between meals.
C. Supplemental or alternative food items may be served to inmates who are
on medical diets or who require more than three (3) meals a day, if so
prescribed by a jail medical provider.
D. If an inmate is away from their housing unit and misses a regularly
scheduled facility meal, they shall be provided with a substitute meal (if the
meal is no longer available). Inmates on medical diets shall be provided
with their prescribed meal.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: FOOD SERVICE NO: F-310
FILE: FOOD SERVICE
IV. FOOD DISTRIBUTION
A. Officers shall accurately complete a Meal Transmittal form noting the time,
the number of trays delivered, number of trays served and number of trays
not served.
B. Distribution of the meal shall be initiated as soon as possible from the time
the first food cart arrives on the housing floor.
1. Inmates in general population and protective custody housing units are
to line up by the pod door awaiting meal distribution. Inmates in
administrative segregation Iockdown cells will be served the meal inside
their cell.
2. A roster shall be used as a check-off list to ensure that every inmate is
provided a meal. An officer shall check on the welfare of any inmate
who does not report for their meal.
3. Distribution of the meals shall be documented via the Safety Check
System (i.e., MEAL PROVIDED). The name of any inmate who did not
obtain a meal shall be indicated in the Comments section.
C. All meals shall be distributed to the inmates under the supervision of an
officer.
D. If a meal needs to be returned (e.g., is spoiled, missing a food item, contains
a foreign object), the incomplete meal must be exchanged for a complete
meal (food service staff must account for all returned or damaged meals).
Depending on the seriousness of the reason for the rejection of the meal,
the facility sergeant should be advised (to photograph and document), and
the food services manager notified to investigate the matter.
1. An incident report shall be written whenever trays are dropped or
damaged prior to being distributed to the inmates.
2. Shortages may be supplemented by using "extra" meals from another
housing floor, but must be accounted for on the Meal Transmittal form.
3. Food service staff shall be contacted if additional meals are needed.
E. Inmates should finish their meals in the dayroom and shall not store
excessive food in their living quarters. Besides being unsanitary, such
storage invites vermin in the living quarters.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: FOOD SERVICE NO: F-310
FILE: FOOD SERVICE
F. All areas where food spillage has occurred shall be properly cleaned
immediately following the service of each meal.
G. The officers shall ensure that all trays are accounted for (i.e., the same
number of trays delivered is the same number retrieved and returned).
H. The garbage shall be removed and placed in the large trash carts. The
carts will be retrieved, emptied and returned to the housing floor.
I. Upon completion of the meal distribution and clean-up, the floor officers
shall conduct a pat search of the inmate workers prior to returning them to
their assigned housing.
V. INMATE FEED WORKERS'
A. All meals shall be distributed under the supervision of an officer. Each floor
is allotted two (2) inmates who have been approved by Population
Management as "floor workers." These inmates may be used to assist in
the distribution of meals in general population housing units.
1. Only inmates assigned as floor workers may be used to assist in the
distribution of meals. Exceptions apply only when allowing the pod
workers assigned to protective custody housing units to assist with the
meal service of their own assigned housing unit, and only if no other
inmate contact can occur.
2. Under no circumstances shall any inmate be permitted to serve meals
to administrative segregation lockdown inmates. Inmate workers shall
not be permitted:
a. Inside any hallway or dayroom containing single cells (e.g., Main Jail
FF cells, Main Jail safety cells, West Annex G and H pods).
b. In lockdown housing units (e.g., Main Jail A-pods)when any cell door
is opened or unlocked.
B. Prior to starting the feeding process, an officer shall visually screen the
workers for obvious signs of illness. Inmates experiencing persistent
sneezing, coughing, or runny nose that cannot be controlled by medication
shall not work with exposed food.
'Inmate workers who are used to serve meals at the jails do not meet the definition as"food handlers"under the
California Retail Food Code. Similarly, the educational requirements of California Code of Regulations,Title 15
section 1230 is applicable only if inmates work in the kitchen.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: FOOD SERVICE NO: F-310
FILE: FOOD SERVICE
C. All persons involved in the food distribution process are required to practice
basic sanitary measures (e.g., hand hygiene, cough etiquette and
cleanliness). Hands must be washed or sanitized or disposable gloves
worn prior to touching any unpackaged food or distributing food trays.
1. Single-use disposable gloves and hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes,
soap and water or similar disinfectant shall be readily available.
2. If the inmate has a wound that is open or draining, the wound must be
covered by an impermeable cover. A wound also includes a cut, sore,
rash, or lesion.
3. Hair restraints (e.g., hairnets) are not required.2
D. Inmate workers must not commit any act that may result in contamination
or adulteration of any food item or utensil.
VI. MEDICAL DIETS
Medical diets are special diets ordered for temporary or permanent health
conditions that restrict the types, preparation, and/or amounts of food.
A. Medical diets shall be planned, prepared, and served with consultation from
a registered dietitian. The medical diet manual, which includes sample
menus of medical diets, shall be available in both the medical unit and the
food service office for reference and information.
B. A registered dietitian shall review, and the responsible physician shall
approve, the diet manual on an annual basis.
C. Orders for medical diets are communicated in writing and include the type
of diet, the duration for which it is to be provided, and special instructions, if
any. Medical staff shall be responsible to create a "Special Diet"ALERT via
Offendertrak for any medically prescribed diet.
2Similar to wait staff,inmates(and officers)present a minimal risk of contaminating food.
H&S§113969
(a)Except as specified in subdivision(b),all food employees preparing,serving,orhandling food or utensils shall
wear hair restraints, such as hats,hair coverings, or nets, which are designed and worn to effectively keep their
hair from contacting nonprepackaged food,clean equipment,utensils,linens,and unwrapped single-use articles.
(b) This section does not apply to food employees,such as counter staff who only serve beverages and wrapped
or prepackaged foods,hostesses,and wait staff,if they present a minimal risk of contaminating nonprepackaged
food,clean equipment, utensils,linens, and unwrapped single-use articles.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: FOOD SERVICE NO: F-310
FILE: FOOD SERVICE
VI I. DISCIPLINARY SEPARATION DIET
The disciplinary separation diet is part of a progressive disciplinary plan and is
one of the last measures to be applied in controlling inmate behavior. The
disciplinary separation diet may be utilized for major violations of institutional
rules or when other forms of lesser discipline have failed to work.
A. The Jail Operations Bureau Commander (or his/her designee) must
approve the initial placement on the disciplinary separation diet and ensure
that medical staff is notified. No inmate shall be placed on a disciplinary
separation diet without first being reviewed by a physician to assess
whether the disciplinary diet will affect any medical condition.
B. The disciplinary diet shall be served twice in each 24-hour period and shall
consist of one-half loaf of the meatloaf (as prescribed by Title 15 Section
1247) along with two slices of whole wheat bread and at least one quart (i.e.,
32 ounces) of drinking water if the cell does not have a water supply.
C. The use of a disciplinary separation diet shall constitute an exception to the
three-meal-a-day standard.
D. If the disciplinary separation diet is sanctioned as a means of discipline, the
loaf will be served to the inmate every other day (on odd-numbered calendar
days) for the prescribed length of discipline.
Vill. RELIGIOUS DIETS
The Sheriffs Office recognizes that inmates have a right to freedom of religion
under the First Amendment, California Constitution, and the federal Religious
Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, and that an inmate's adherence to
a religious food practice is an exertion of that right. As such, the Jail Division
will make every reasonable attempt to accommodate and provide religious
diets to inmates who demonstrate a sincere religious belief to adhere to a
religious diet. When religious diets are provided, they shall conform to the
nutritional and caloric requirements for non-religious diets.
[Refer to policy E-185/Religious Diets(FILE: RELIGIOUS DIETS).]
IX. MENU SUBSTITUTIONS
A. All menus for meals served to inmates shall be planned at least one (1)
month in advance.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: FOOD SERVICE NO: F-310
FILE: FOOD SERVICE
B. Menu substitutions or changes in the approved menu shall be held to a
minimum.
1. When necessary due to unforeseen circumstances, substitutions to the
menu items may be made from a list which has been pre-approved by
the dietitian on an item-for-item basis.
2. If any meal served varies from the planned menu, the change shall be
noted in writing on the menu and/or production sheet.
3. All other changes to the menu shall only be made with the prior approval
of the Jail Medical & Services Bureau Commander.
C. Menus, as planned, and including changes, shall be evauated by a
registered dietitian at least annually.
X. MEAL ACCOUNTING WORKSHEETS
A. Meal Transmittal forms will be accurately completed and submitted to the
Office Assistant assigned to the Services Unit. A designated food service
employee will FAX or deliver the forms at the end of each week.
B. The Office Assistant shall reconcile the total number of meals ordered and
served for each meal onto a daily Meal Count worksheet, which shall be
forwarded to the Services Sergeant on a weekly basis.
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