LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,

Laredo, TX –The City of Laredo Health Department (CLHD) wants to remind the public to refrain from supporting illegal food vendors and illegal food products in our area, especially during this holiday season in order to prevent food-borne illnesses such as infections, food poisoning and gastrointestinal diseases. It is important to remember that all food items should be purchased from legal and permitted food vendors and food establishments only. Permitted and legal food vendors are those licensed by the CLHD Environmental Health Division.

 Properly licensed establishments are inspected on a regular basis and meet set sanitation standards and requirements in order to operate. All food handlers that sell and work in food establishments must attend annual food handlers’ training to obtain a permit to sell or handle food items. With this training, food service workers and the managers know how to handle, cook, prepare, store, refrigerate and heat food that is safe for eating. All food service establishments and vendors are required to display their City food license in a conspicuous location to their customers at all times.  It is the public’s right to request to view this permit. We encourage persons not to buy any food item form anyone that does not have their food permit or license in full display.

Therefore to protect the public we want to remind you of the following:

• Only eat at approved permitted and licensed restaurants.
• Only buy food from establishments with a proper food license.
• Persons with street vending carts and/or motorized vehicles must wear and display at all times a valid current street vendor picture ID issued by the CLHD. 
• Anyone opening a restaurant or managing a food vending mobile establishment must comply with all City vending requirements and must obtain a City food license. City ordinance considers any place that prepares food for sale, sells, and/or gives away food products, as a food product establishment, requiring them to obtain a city food license. 
• Anyone preparing and handling food must comply with “Food Handler’s Training” held every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. and every Friday at 9:00 a.m. at the CLHD.  The cost for Food Handler Certificate is $20.00 and is valid for 2 years.

 Special Events

·         Persons or fundraising groups who will sell any food item must obtain a Special Event Vendor’s Permit.  The fee for Special Event Vendor’s Permit is $20.00 per food vending organization.  Permits must be obtained at the CLHD.  This includes selling hot dogs, frito pies, nachos, chips, popcorn, sodas, coffee, hot chocolate, candy, and/or pre-packaged items. 

·         Food vendors are advised to set up their food establishment on private property, and not in streets, right of ways, or street easements.  It is against city ordinance to sell on sidewalks especially in the downtown business district.

The City of Laredo Health Department will gladly assist you as you prepare to conduct food vending. We will provide you with the basic requirements to sell any food item, train you on the correct way to prepare and store food items, prevent food contamination, and assure food service hygiene and sanitation.

Non-compliance of any food vending city ordinance and/or the health and safety code will result in penalties and fines. The CLHD will cite food vendors who sell food without permits and/or vendors who are in violation of City ordinance.  Laredo Municipal Court fines could range up to $2,000.  The rules of food preparation and personal hygiene apply to all food service workers, whether they are paid professionals or volunteers.  We encourage the public to report illegal vending by calling 311.

 We appreciate your cooperation and assistance in helping us keep Laredo free of disease. Through these efforts, the city maintains high quality standards in food preparation and handling which has greatly reduced food-borne illness. 

To report illegal food vendors you may call 311. For additional information, please contact
the City of Laredo Health Department Environmental Health Division at (956) 795-4904.