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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 104Pt. 7Ch. 6Art. 3§ 114157 Food Temperature Monitoring Requirements

§ 114157 Food Temperature Monitoring Requirements

Health and Safety Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 114157 Food Temperature Monitoring Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •Every fridge or freezer that holds food must have a thermometer.
  • •The thermometer must be easy to see and show the warmest part of the fridge.
  • •Hot or cold food holders must have a built-in way to check the temperature, unless it's impossible because of how they're made.
  • •The temperature display must be easy to read and show numbers in small steps (no more than 2°F apart).

Example

A restaurant keeps burgers in a fridge before cooking them.

The fridge must have a thermometer that is easy to see and shows the temperature in the warmest part. This helps make sure the burgers stay cold enough to be safe to eat. If the thermometer is missing or hard to read, the restaurant could get in trouble.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 114157 Food Temperature Monitoring Requirements

(a) A thermometer shall be provided for each refrigeration unit. (b) The thermometer shall be located to indicate the air temperature in the warmest part of the unit and, except for vending machines, shall be affixed to be readily visible. (c) Except as specified in subdivision (d), cold or hot holding equipment used for potentially hazardous food shall be designed to include and shall be equipped with at least one integral or permanently affixed temperature measuring device that is located to allow easy viewing of the device’s temperature display. Alternative hot or cold holding equipment can be equipped with approved product mimicking sensors placed in devices located in the warmest part of the mechanically refrigerated unit in lieu of an ambient air sensor. (d) Subdivision (c) shall not apply to equipment for which the placement of a temperature measuring device is not a practical means for measuring the ambient air surrounding the food because of the design, type, and use of the equipment, such as calrod units, heat lamps, cold plates, bainmaries, steam tables, insulated food transport containers, and salad bars. (e) Temperature measuring devices shall be easily readable and have a numerical scale, printed record, or digital readout in increments no greater than 2°F or over the intended range of use. (Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 23, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2007. Operative July 1, 2007, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 23.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

equipmentporthazardthermometerrefrigerationoperative julyplacement

Related Statutes

  • § 114161 Food Storage Location Restrictions
  • § 17060 Employee Housing Compliance Enforcement
  • § 1798.101 Rural Emergency Medical Oversight
  • § 5460 Contamination Abatement Orders
  • § 108970 Apparel Definition Standards

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 114157.
View Official Source