I am contemplating to start shawarma food cart in GTA-Toronto area,
Canada. During my search on the related regulations I have come across
the following link: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/health/he/pdf/hotdogcarts.pdf
After reading this document I got the impression that a shawarma food
cart, which would require a verticle grill, may not be approved under
the Toronto bylaws. Could you please tell me if my impression is true
or not; and in case my impression is true, can you recommend a way to
overcome this issue?

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Request for Question Clarification by aht-ga on 02 Mar 2004 22:26 PST

I read through the document you referenced with some interest; having
lived in Toronto as recently as last year, I was surprised to see that
the hot dogs carts are supposed to be equipped with sinks. I do not
believe I have ever seen one on any hot dog cart in Toronto.

Your question asks about the vertical grill that you would be using.
The vertical grill should not be too much of a problem, as long as you
shield the cooking area to prevent contamination of the food. The only
real requirements from the City are that the grill area be protected,
and of course that hot surfaces are not easily accessible by the
public.

The real problem may be the prohibition of using raw meats.
Technically, food vendor carts are supposed to be reheating food, as
opposed to cooking raw food (I will NOT get into a discussion about
whether the hot dog weiners can actually be classified as 'meat',
cooked or not). Is proper shawarma not based on using raw meats such
as lamb and chicken?

Shawarma is similar to 'Donner' in some ways; I know that there is a
place on Yonge just south of Gerrard that serves Donner in a fast food
style. If you haven't already, you might want to talk to the folks
there and get their ideas about how feasible it would be to 'take the
show on the road', so to speak. The street vendor business in Toronto
is so cut-throat (there's just so many of them!), that I'd be
concerned about how to keep the meat from spoiling and/or overcooking.

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

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Clarification of Question by haaris-ga on 03 Mar 2004 06:41 PST

The raw meat concern can be handled because the meat cone (chicken or
lamb) will be semi-cooked before being brought to the cart. There is
no way a 100lb cone can be cooked from start on the cart. Will that be
okay? Could you please refer me to a link for bylaws governing the
food cart business?
Thanks for your help.

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Request for Question Clarification by aht-ga on 03 Mar 2004 23:13 PST

haaris-ga:

There is no specific bylaw or regulation that covers the food cart
business in Ontario. Like all food preparation businesses and
premises, food carts are regulated by the Ontario Health Protection
and Promotion Act (R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 562), found here:

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Regs/English/900562_e.htm

A food cart as you have described, serving shawarma, falls under the
'Mobile Preparation Premises' section, Section 5.

Please note that Section 5.(3) provides the exception for Hot Dog
carts. In case you are wondering what this exception is, this
exception allows the hot dog vendor to be located outside of the
actual premise (the cart) even while preparing food to be served to
members of the public. Only hot dog/sausage carts receive this
exemption.

All other mobile preparation premises are required to be constructed
such that food is prepared inside the premises, by workers who
themselves are located inside the premises. I suppose you have seen
the food trucks located on Queen St. at Nathan Philips Square? Those
meet the requirements of 5.(2), as the workers are located inside the
truck while preparing the food.

Since the shawarma is not fully pre-cooked meat, I think that your
only option is to go with a food truck instead of a food cart. Now,
the final interpretation of this is up to the public health inspector,
so you would be best off contacting them directly for their opinion.
Their contact information is contained in the PDF file you referenced
in your Question.

Please let me know if the links and explanation I have provided to the
Ontario regulations is satisfactory, so that I may post this as the
Answer.

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

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Clarification of Question by haaris-ga on 04 Mar 2004 09:45 PST

Thank you very much. Please go ahead and post the answer. You have
provided very comprehensive information in response to my question. I
would probably post some more questions in the next few days.

haaris-ga:

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to help you with your
Question. I will summarize my findings below, with regards to the
specific regulations covering food carts in Toronto:

-------------------------

There is no specific bylaw or regulation that covers the food cart
business in Ontario. Like all food preparation businesses and
premises, food carts are regulated by the Ontario Health Protection
and Promotion Act (R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 562), found here:

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Regs/English/900562_e.htm

A food cart as you have described, serving shawarma, falls under the
'Mobile Preparation Premises' section, Section 5.

Please note that Section 5.(3) provides the exception for Hot Dog
carts. In case you are wondering what this exception is, this
exception allows the hot dog vendor to be located outside of the
actual premise (the cart) even while preparing food to be served to
members of the public. Only hot dog/sausage carts receive this
exemption.

All other mobile preparation premises are required to be constructed
such that food is prepared inside the premises, by workers who
themselves are located inside the premises. I suppose you have seen
the food trucks located on Queen St. at Nathan Philips Square? Those
meet the requirements of 5.(2), as the workers are located inside the
truck while preparing the food.

Since the shawarma is not fully pre-cooked meat, I think that your
only option is to go with a food truck instead of a food cart. Now,
the final interpretation of this is up to the public health inspector,
so you would be best off contacting them directly for their opinion.
Their contact information is contained in the PDF file you referenced
in your Question.

-------------------------

Generally speaking, a good place for you to start would be to contact
the nearest Public Health office. In addition to the PDF file, the
same contact information is listed on the City of Toronto website
where you found the PDF file:

http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/health/he/hd_index.htm

Good luck!

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher