City Health Officials See Uptick in Unpermitted Food Vendors

Mecklenburg County Public Health is seeing a rise in complaints about unpermitted food vendors, with most of the violations in Uptown and South End.

County officials say these street vendors often operate without the necessary inspections that ensure safe food handling and hygiene practices.

The county’s Food and Facilities Sanitation Program monitors over 4,400 licensed food establishments and performs more than 13,000 inspections each year. Permitted businesses are required to display visible safety scorecards confirming they meet public health standards.

“Unpermitted food vendors pose a serious health risk of foodborne illness, which can be severe and even fatal,” Chrystal Swinger, director of Environmental Health for Mecklenburg County, said. “Our team is working to ensure these individuals stop selling food in these often-hazardous conditions, but we need residents to help us by not patronizing illegal food vendors.”

Source: WCNC