San Francisco Yogurt Safety Regulations & Health Code Requirements

Temperature Control & Storage Requirements

San Francisco Health Code requires yogurt to be maintained at 41°F (5°C) or below at all times, whether refrigerated, displayed, or transported. The DPH enforces a zero-tolerance policy for time-temperature abuse; yogurt left unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours must be discarded (1 hour if ambient temperature exceeds 90°F). Establishments must use calibrated thermometers to monitor cooler temperatures twice daily and maintain daily logs. Walk-in coolers and reach-in refrigerators are subject to surprise inspections, and temperature variance records are a primary focus during health inspections.

Sourcing, Labeling & Expiration Compliance

All yogurt sold or served in San Francisco must come from suppliers with current California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) approval. Products must display lot codes, expiration dates (sell-by or use-by), and allergen information in compliance with FDA labeling standards. The DPH requires establishments to implement FIFO (First In, First Out) rotation and maintain supplier documentation. Frozen yogurt is treated differently under California Food Code and requires separate temperature documentation. Bulk yogurt purchased for in-house use must be transferred to labeled, food-grade containers with original use dates.

DPH Inspection Focus Areas for Yogurt Operations

San Francisco health inspectors prioritize cross-contamination prevention, particularly yogurt contact with raw proteins or non-ready-to-eat foods. Staff hygiene and hand-washing compliance when handling yogurt products receive heightened scrutiny. Inspectors verify that yogurt toppings (granola, fruit, nuts) are stored separately and that self-serve yogurt dispensers have protective barriers and functioning temperature gauges. Documentation of staff training in proper yogurt handling is required. Any yogurt recall alerts from the FDA or CDC are immediately communicated to local establishments via DPH mailing lists and enforcement actions.

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