Central District Health Urges Consumers to Use Caution Around Unlicensed Restaurants and Unregulated Food Vendors

BOISE, March 5, 2025 – Over the last few months, Santé du district central (CDH) has received food poisoning complaints related to unlicensed food vendors advertising through social media in the Treasure Valley. CDH urges consumers to use caution when purchasing foods from home vendors and to refrain from visiting unlicensed “underground” restaurants operated out of residential kitchens.

“There are multiple risk factors in buying from unlicensed and unregulated vendors, but the most serious is the risk of foodborne illness,” said Environmental Health Program Manager Natasha Ferney. “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.”

Foods that require proper refrigeration and storge to prevent food-borne illnesses are called temperature controlled for safety (TCS) foods.

Examples of TCS foods include:

•  Dairy products and eggs
• Proteins like hamburgers, burritos, chili and fish
• Cooked rice, beans or pasta
• Custard desserts and cream-filled pastries
• Cut fruits and vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, cantaloupe, and bean sprouts

Non-TCS foods don’t support the growth of disease-causing bacteria and include shelf-stable products such as:

• Dry goods and cereals
• Dehydrated and un-reconstituted foods
• Candy, popcorn, cookies and bread

“The Idaho Food Code allows vendors approved to operate under the Cottage Food rule to sell non-TCS foods directly to consumers without a license,” said Ferney. “But we are seeing a steady increase in unlicensed ‘underground’ restaurants and unregulated vendors selling TCS foods without proper permits and approvals,” said Ferney. “These types of businesses often advertise single-plate or order-ahead sales. You may be told to pick up your orders from the home of the unlicensed operator or instructed to meet them at other locations, such as a parking lot or public park. Clearly, you would have no idea how your food was stored or handled in these situations.”

CDH’s environmental health specialists work with restaurants, caterers, schools, grocers and other facilities to ensure they are conducting their operations with the public’s health at the forefront. Specialists provide education and guidance during the thousands of routine food service inspections conducted each year to keep the public safe.

“Our inspections are extensive and begin before the business opens its’ doors and continue throughout the entirety of the business’s operation,” said Ferney. “Our specialists conduct plan reviews before permitting the facility and provide education and training to food service operators, managers and employees every step on regulations needed to prevent foodborne illness.”

Environmental health specialists inspect sites thoroughly to verify that they meet health standards. They verify coolers, refrigerators and freezers are at the necessary temperatures to store and/or cool foods and ensure that foods are stored safely and properly. They check for safety and sanitary considerations and look for evidence of pests. They also confirm that the provider is serving food from an approved source and that all food items are correctly identified.

“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 stressed. “We want to educate and thus prevent illness in the community.”

Anyone interested in obtaining a food service permit or who has questions or concerns about food service operations can find guidance and forms, submit a food poisoning report, view food establishment inspection records ou contact CDH online.

À propos de Central District Health
Le CDH, district de santé publique IV, est l'un des sept districts de santé publique de l'État de l'Idaho, desservant les comtés d'Ada, de Boise, d'Elmore et de Valley. Avec une vision de personnes en bonne santé dans des communautés en bonne santé, le CDH met l'accent sur la réduction des facteurs de risque des maladies chroniques, l'amélioration de la qualité de vie et l'augmentation du nombre d'années de vie en bonne santé parmi les résidents.

Contact :
Stephanie Borders, Communications Manager
Bureau : 208-327-8639 | Cellulaire 208-871-1712
Sborders@cdh.idaho.gov | cdh.idaho.gov/news
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