Officials said the “underground” restaurants operating out of residential kitchens are advertising their food on social media in the Treasure Valley.
BOISE, Idaho — Central District Health (CDH) has issued a warning to the public about several food poisoning complaints associated with unlicensed food vendors.
Health officials on Wednesday said the “underground” restaurants operating out of residential kitchens are advertising their food on social media in the Treasure Valley. CDH said consumers should exercise caution when purchasing food.
“There are multiple risk factors in buying from unlicensed and unregulated vendors, but the most serious is the risk of foodborne illness,” said Natasha Ferney, CDH environmental health program manager. “These vendors may not have a sanitary kitchen that meets provisions of the Idaho Food Code or know how to properly store or handle food to help prevent growth of disease-causing bacteria.”
Central District Health officials said they are concerned about temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) foods, which require proper refrigeration and storage to prevent foodborne illnesses. Some TCS foods include dairy, eggs, meats, beans, pasta, custards, some vegetables and fruit.
Ferney said the unlicensed food vendors are selling TCS foods without proper licenses.
However, Central District Health emphasized that its goal is public safety rather than shutting down businesses.
“The goal of the CDH food safety program is to protect the public from foodborne related illnesses and to help businesses succeed, not to shut anyone down,” Ferney said. “We want to educate and thus prevent illness in the community.”
Consumers seeking information about food service permits or wishing to report concerns can find guidance, submit food poisoning reports, or view inspection records through Central District Health’s website.
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