BAKERSFIELD,Calif. — The Kern County Grand Jury has just released a report detailing some recommendations for the Kern County Public Health Services Department on how to further protect citizens from non-permit holding food vendors.
The Kern County Public Health Services Department included a possible ordinance, which would allow the department to not only confiscate food from non-permit vendors, but also their equipment.
Mohammed Saphieh, owner of the Pita Paradise food truck says he isn’t against the
ordinance that would allow Kern County to impound unpermitted food vendor’s carts or equipment.
“Whether they are eating here or somewhere else, they (don’t) need just healthy food, but (they want to) eat from professionals that know what they are doing,” Saphieh said.
Currently, there is no established county ordinance or procedure in place. Saphieh says taking someone’s equipment sounds drastic, but necessary.
"They can just turn around and just buy the food again” Saphieh said.
Michelle Corson, with the Kern County Public Health Services Department, says they are requesting this authority in addition to giving citations. They plan to send this off to the Board of Supervisors for approval, as soon as possible.
Michelle Corson, with the Kern County Public Health Services Department, says they are requesting this authority in addition to giving citations. They plan to send this off to the Board of Supervisors for approval, as soon as possible.
“ So we are starting to investigate other counties that may have a similar process in place,” Corson said.
Corson explains the department receives a lot of their complaints about non-permit food vendors from permit-holding vendors.
“If you are operating safely, and within the guidelines you will have a permit from environmental health, and this will never be something presented to you,” Corson said.
The plans on how and where the department would store these impounded trucks or carts is something they are looking into.
April 11, 2019
KERN 23ABC News
By Lezla Gooden
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