Kitchens

Kitchens 1. Children are not allowed in the kitchen area. In School Age/After School programs, children may be allowed in the kitchen but not during times when food is being cooked. Supervision in the kitchen when children are present must meet the staffing requirements as referenced in Subchapter 8 of the regulations. 2. Barriers, approved by the local fire authority, shall be erected and doors shall be closed at all times. 3. The kitchen area shall be designed and constructed to be totally enclosed with walls, doors, and/or barriers. Serving counter openings that conform to local fire codes and MSDH food service regulations are permitted. 4. Kitchens shall have the following minimum square footage, based upon the maximum number of children allowed pursuant to the license: Licensed Capacity Minimum Sq. Footage 1-50 90 sq. ft. 51-70 150 sq. ft. 71-100 210 sq. ft. over 100 300 sq. ft. 5. Child care facilities serving 50 or more children shall have a separate, stand alone freezer for storage of frozen foods. 6. All kitchens providing food for child care facilities with 13 or more children, and all kitchens in child care facilities not located in occupied dwellings, shall comply with the Mississippi State Department of Health's 10.0 Regulation Food Code, with the exception that kitchens in facilities located in an occupied dwelling that are licensed for 13 or more children need not have a separate kitchen to serve the child care facility. 7. All kitchens and/or food/snack preparation areas in a child care facility shall be inspected as part of the child care inspection process.