Approved Sources for Food Products 
The First Step In Ensuring Safe Food For Your Customers 
General requirements  
Purchase food from commercial suppliers under regulatory     
control. Approved sources may include:  
• 
Local, regional or international growers  
• 
Food manufacturing plants 
• 
Food suppliers or distributors  
• 
Directly from a grower 
It is the duty of the person in charge to ensure that food is 
not  prepared or stored in a private home.  
Special requirements  
Certain food products must meet specific requirements. 
These include:  
• 
Fluid milk and milk products must be from sources that     
comply with Grade A standards, which include           
pasteurization.  
• 
Fish must be commercially or legally caught and         
approved by a regulatory authority for sale or service. 
• 
Meat and poultry must be USDA inspected and passed.  
• 
Shell eggs must be received clean and intact and meet 
grade B standards or better. 
• 
Liquid eggs, frozen eggs, dry eggs, or other egg       
products must already be pasteurized when received.  
• 
Canned, bagged, or hermetically sealed food must be          
purchased from a licensed food processor. 
• 
Molluscan shellfish must be from a source listed in the         
Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List. 
Best practices for Identifying 
Approved Sources  
1. Review the source’s food safety 
plan.  
2. Inspect the transportation       
vehicle. 
3. Check receiving temperatures 
(41°F or below for refrigerated 
items; 0°F for frozen items). 
4. Inspect delivered food          
products for safety and quality. 
5. Ask for a receipt of purchase and 
keep good records.                   
Record-keeping Receipts should 
include the following information: 
• Date of delivery  
• Received by name  
• Donated or purchased  
• Description and amount of food 
• Name of supplier, address and        
j     contact information (phone or    
j     email address)  
United States Virgin Islands 
Department of Health 
Division of Environmental Health 
https://doh.vi.gov/programs/environmental-health