General and Product Liability for Food Trucks

What it covers

Bodily injury and property damage claims arising from your operations, such as a customer slipping on spilled oil near the service window, or your generator damaging a venue's lawn. Products and completed operations coverage addresses claims that food you served made someone sick.

What organizers ask for

Event organizers commonly ask for a certificate showing general liability at a specific limit, naming them as additional insured. Read the vendor agreement carefully, because some also require auto liability or workers comp.

Products and food-borne illness

Claims that food made someone sick, or that a dish contained an undisclosed allergen, fall under products and completed operations coverage, which usually has its own aggregate limit. Labeling allergens, following the health department's temperature and handwashing rules and keeping supplier records all help, both for safety and for defending a claim.

Additional insured certificates

Event organizers, property owners and commissaries often want to be named as additional insured on your general liability. Some policies include a blanket additional insured endorsement that automatically covers anyone you agree in writing to add; others require each one to be listed. Ask how certificates are requested and how quickly they are issued, because organizers often ask days before an event.

Limits and aggregates

General liability usually has a per-occurrence limit and a general aggregate limit for the policy period. Vendor agreements may specify both. Check whether the aggregate applies per location or per policy, since a busy event season can mean many venues under one policy.

Common exclusions

• Injuries to your own employees, which belong under workers comp
• Accidents while driving, which belong under commercial auto
• Damage to your own truck and equipment
• Liquor liability if you sell alcohol, unless endorsed

Frequently asked questions