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

BOISE, March 5, 2025 – Over the last few months, 中部地区卫生 (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 或 contact CDH online.

关于中心区卫生
爱达荷州第四公共卫生区 CDH 是爱达荷州七个公共卫生区之一，服务于艾达县、博伊西县、埃尔莫尔县和山谷县。CDH 以 "健康社区中的健康人群 "为愿景，重点关注减少慢性疾病的风险因素、提高生活质量以及增加居民的健康生活年限。

联系方式
Stephanie Borders, Communications Manager
办公室办公室：208-327-8639 | 手机：208-871-1712
Sborders@cdh.idaho.gov | cdh.idaho.gov/news
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