BEH warns of food safety on mobile vendors

The Bureau of Environmental Health has released a health advisory that warned the public of food items sold by mobile vendors that could have been operating without proper documents.

“The [BEH] would like to advise the public to be wary of mobile food vendors (food vans) that may be operating without a business license, sanitary permit, and/or certified to handle food,” said the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. in a statement.

BEH requires a mobile food vendor to have a valid business license and vehicle registration—valid vehicle insurance, driver’s license, and food handler—before they would issue a sanitary permit for a delivery vehicle.

The establishment that owns the mobile food vehicle must also have a sanitary permit—either for their kitchen or restaurant—sanitary permit for the delivery vehicle, which has the name of the business or company with the other contact information, and valid food handler certificates for identification and verification purposes.

BEH is also requiring that all proper and valid documents must always be on-hand for every delivery vehicle.

They also wanted the personnel that handles the food deliveries to have a clean attire and hair restraints, wearing a shirt with sleeves, using a single-use disposable gloves, and in good health that’s free from any flu-like symptoms and have no open wounds or cuts that are not properly covered.

Any food that will be delivered must be stored in non-corrosive approved containers inside a clean vehicle that needs to be dirt and dust free. Food handlers must also use tongs, gloves, and other utensils needed to properly handle and distribution of food items.

Food items must also be properly wrapped or sealed to minimize exposure to contamination while also keeping hot foods at 140° F (60° C) or higher, or at 40° F (4.4° C) or lower.

They also classified food contamination into three types—biological from bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi; chemical from pesticides, food additives, cleaning supplies, and toxic metals; and physical or foreign matter from dirt, broken glass, and other objects.

“Cross-contamination is the transfer of harmful substances or micro-organisms by clean (free of visible soil) versus sanitary (free of harmful levels of contamination).

For concerns, information, or questions, call the BEH office at 664-4870/72/73 or director John M. Tagabuel at john.tagabuel@dph.gov.mp.