As we near the end of summer and look forward to the beginning of fall, two big events bring our community together for good eats and fun thrills—Pig Out in the Park and the Spokane County Interstate Fair. These events are known for offering a wide variety of delicious foods that have us ready to dig and enjoy! 

Our Food Safety team wants to remind everyone in the community though about the importance of purchasing from permitted food vendors. Food inspectors from the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) work with food vendors each year to ensure they have thew right permits and education to handle and prepare food safely and that both statewide and local regulation are being followed. Permitted food vendors ensure that:

✅ Produce is washed before being eaten. 

✅ Food is prepared in a commercial kitchen.

✅ Food is kept under temperature control to prevent bacteria from growing. 

✅ Employees have access to handwashing. 

It's important to be mindful that not all vendors have the right permits to sell food to the public. Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) permits are only valid at these types of community events, so if you see vendors selling food out in the community, like on neighborhood sidewalks or through social media, they may not be permitted by SRHD. 

Without the proper food safety education and permits, food vendors may not be aware of how to keep food safe to prevent others from getting sick. Trust us, there's a lot more to know than simply not keeping perishable food out for more than two hours! As we gear up for another round of fun events in our area, we encourage you to support permitted food vendors and be aware of what to look for to ensure a vendor is permitted. 

These include:

✅ Permit to operate is posted or made available upon request.

✅ There is a handwashing station with soap and paper towels.

✅ Proper equipment is available to prepare food and keep it from spoiling.

✅ Food vendors follow safe food handling practices, such as wearing gloves when handling ready-to-eat foods.

We appreciate our community’s support and understanding as we work to reduce the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks. Learn more at: About Foodborne Illness | Partnership for Food Safety Education