Food Safety Center: Food Businesses
Potluck Events
Applying MN Statutes,
section 157.22, on “potluck”
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Potluck Events (PDF:
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What is a potluck? A meal at
which attendees bring food that is donated and shared by the attendees. Also
known as a potluck supper. Any fundraising efforts must be separate from the
potluck event. Events sponsored by a licensed food establishment or for which
food is prepared or held in the kitchen of a licensed food establishment is
not a potluck event.
Situations
- Organization ABC publicly advertises a potluck event. The ad
states that everyone bring a chicken (cooked at home or bought ready-to-eat
from a store) and a side dish to share. The organizers of the event will provide
desserts, beverages, and paper supplies.
- A religious group would like to sell frozen pizzas to the community
to raise funds for a new addition.
- A school PTA publicly advertises a potluck event for the parents
of third grade students. Each parent brings some food to share; the school
provides paper supplies and beverages. The food is served in the school’s
cafeteria, but it is not brought into the kitchen.
- Organization ABC publicly advertises a lutefisk dinner. All
of the food will be prepared at a local social club.
- Organization ABC publicly advertises a food event that will
be held at a licensed food establishment. All of the hot food will be held
hot in the ovens in the kitchen of the licensed food establishment.
- Organization ABC publicly advertises a food event. Someone
is willing to roast a pig for the event, but will not be reimbursed by the
organization for the cost. All food is donated and shared among attendees.
The food is not brought into a licensed kitchen.
Situation 1
Organization ABC publicly advertises a potluck event. The ad states that everyone
bring a chicken (cooked at home or bought ready-to-eat from a store) and a side
dish to share. The organizers of the event will provide desserts, beverages,
and paper supplies.
Application
This is a potluck event because food and/or supplies are donated and shared
by attendees.
Go to > top.
Situation 2
A religious group would like to sell frozen pizzas to the community to raise
funds for a new addition.
Application
This is a special food event, not a potluck, and the governmental agency may
require a license.
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Situation 3
A school PTA publicly advertises a potluck event for the parents of third grade
students. Each parent brings some food to share; the school provides paper supplies
and beverages. The food is served in the school’s cafeteria, but it is
not brought into the kitchen.
Application
This is a potluck event. The food is donated and shared, and it is not brought
into the licensed kitchen. (MN Statutes, Chapter 157, requires school kitchens
to be licensed.)
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Situation 4
Organization ABC publicly advertises a lutefisk dinner. All of the food will
be prepared at a local social club.
Application
This is not a potluck event. This event requires a license. The attendees are
not donating or sharing food.
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Situation 5
Organization ABC publicly advertises a food event that will be held at a licensed
food establishment. All of the hot food will be held hot in the ovens in the
kitchen of the licensed food establishment.
Application
A food event does not qualify as a potluck event if it uses the kitchen of
a licensed food establishment.
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Situation 6
Organization ABC publicly advertises a food event. Someone is willing to roast
a pig for the event, but will not be reimbursed by the organization for the
cost. All food is donated and shared among attendees. The food is not brought
into a licensed kitchen.
Application
This is a potluck event. If the person is roasting and donating the pig as
their contribution to the event, no license is required.
Go to > top.
For questions about this page, please contact the Food, Beverage and Lodging
Program at health.foodlodging@state.mn.us or
651-201-4500.
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