County warns against unpermitted food vendors to help avoid foodborne illnesses

Clark County (WA) Public Health is urging community members to only purchase food from permitted food carts, event vendors and restaurants. Permitted food establishments undergo routine inspections to ensure safe food handling, storage and preparation practices are followed, which reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

The health department is concerned about unsafe food practices occurring at unpermitted food carts selling hot dogs in the parking lot of the RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater following concerts at the venue. The makeshift food carts are not equipped to properly store or prepare food, as they lack refrigeration, clean water and handwashing facilities. 

Storing foods at the appropriate temperatures — keeping cold foods cold and hot foods hot — is critical to prevent germs that cause foodborne illness from growing. Food must also be cooked thoroughly to the appropriate temperatures to kill any germs that have grown. And handwashing is essential to prevent spreading germs from hands to the food people are eating.

“These unpermitted food carts are dangerous and putting people at risk for foodborne illness,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Public Health director and Clark County health officer. 

The unpermitted food vendors first appeared in Clark County in August, and since then, the number of carts appearing at events has increased. The carts are transported in vans with out-of-state license plates to the venue before or during the concerts, and vendors begin serving hot dogs as people leave the event venue. Similar food cart operations are appearing elsewhere in the region, including Portland and Seattle.

Public Health’s Food Safety team has attempted to address the unsafe food operations. However, the food cart operators have ignored the health department’s direction and continue to operate in ways that are unsafe to the public. Public Health is working closely with Live Nation and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to find solutions that protect the health of the community.

Community members can protect themselves from foodborne illness by only patronizing permitted food establishments. Permitted vendors receive education about safe food handling, storage and preparation and undergo routine inspections to ensure safe food handling practices are being followed. These efforts help prevent the spread of foodborne illness like Salmonella, E. coli, and norovirus. 

Food vendors are required to have their Clark County Public Health food service operating permit displayed for customer viewing. Customers can request to see the permit if one is not visible. Community members can also search permitted food establishments and review inspection scores on the Public Health website.

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