Internet food service intermediaries are required to obtain a registration from the California Department of Public Health – Food and Drug Branch prior to advertising or promoting MEHKOs on their internet web site or mobile application. A CDPH-FDB Internet Food Service Intermediary application can be found on the CDPH-FDB Retail Food website at: Internet Food Service Intermediary Registration Application (PDF)​. Mail completed application to the following address for processing:

California Department of Public Health​

Food and Drug Branch-Retail Food Program

P.O. Box 997435, MS 7602

Sacramento, CA 95899-7435

​In addition to obtaining a registration, the general requirements for Internet Food Service Intermediaries under the (Cal Code) Chapter 11.6 include:

Clearly and conspicuously posting on the IFSI website:

• The requirements for the permitting of a MeHKO by the local enforcement agency as specified in the California Retail Food Code (Cal Code), Chapter 11.6.
• Any fees associated with the amount being charged for the services provided on the Internet Web site or mobile application.
• If they have liability insurance that covers any incidences arising from the sale or consumption of food listed or promoted.
• A dedicated field on the internet platform for a MeHKO to post the health permit number and the name of the county environmental health agency that issued the permit,
• Provide notice to MeHKO of the requirement that the permit must be updated annually.
• How a consumer can report a food safety complaint to the Internet food service intermediary and local enforcement agency (LEA).

Additional IFSI requirements under Cal Code Chapter 11.6 include:

• If notified by the local enforcement agency of significant food safety related complaints from a verified consumer that has made a purchase through its Internet Web site or mobile application, the Internet Food Safety Intermediary will submit to the local enforcement agency the name and permit number of microenterprise home kitchen operation where the food was purchased, and a list of consumers who purchased food on the same day from that microenterprise home kitchen operation.
• The IFSI is required to submit the name and permit number of a microenterprise home kitchen operation to the LEA if it receives three or more unrelated individual food safety-related complaints consumers that has made a purchase through its Internet Web site or mobile application within two weeks of the third complaint received.
• Advertisement of third-party delivery services for food produced by a microenterprise home kitchen operation are not allowed, except as authorized under Cal Code Section 114367.5. (2)(b).
• IFSI or MEHKO are not allowed to use the word “catering”​ or any variation of that word in a listing or publication of a microenterprise home kitchen operation’s offer of food for sale.

Please Note: Prior to an IFSI advertising microenterprise home kitchen operations, the local governmental jurisdiction where the MEHKO resides must have in place an ordinance or resolution that creates a food permit and inspection program with the local environmental health agency that meet the requirements under the California Retail Food Code (Cal Code) Chapter 11.6.​