TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — As the weather gets warmer, you may see an uptick in people trying to sell food without proper licensing.
“During the summer months when we have a lot of temporary events, that’s typically when we see unpermitted vendors,” said Josh Jensen, the environmental health director for the South-Central Public Health District.
The district warned that buying food from unlicensed vendors can pose multiple risks, the biggest of which is foodborne illnesses. Jensen with the health district said those sellers aren’t inspected.
“We don’t know where the food is being prepared and, we don’t know what kind of conditions they’re operating in, and we don’t know where the food comes from,” Jensen said. “Usually when we run across them, we ask them to close operations until they acquire the appropriate permits.”
Jensen said dairy products, eggs, meats and seafood all require proper storage to avoid sickness. Not getting the appropriate permit is against the Idaho code, and Jenson recommended constantly checking for one.
“It should be displayed prominently in the establishment, whether a fixed restaurant or a mobile unit.”
Katrina Martinez owns the Tacos El Guey food truck. She says getting your business inspected and permitted usually takes two weeks.
“The first thing you want to do when you get a license is you want to pass your serve license first, and your serve license is extra protection to show you know the guidelines on your food,” Martinez said. “Once you pass that, you go to the health department, you let them know and they will schedule when they can come out to inspect you.”
Martinez said food vendors need to be inspected every year, and if you own a food truck, you must also get checked by the fire department.
“Every 6 months, they come in and they do it,” Martinez said.
According to the health district, violating can result in a misdemeanor.
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