2 WA counties battle surge of illegal food vendors, citing health risks

Two Washington counties, Thurston and Snohomish, have received numerous complaints over unlicensed food vendors posing health risks to consumers and negatively affecting licensed businesses.

In a release on Friday, the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department (TCPH) urged residents to avoid purchasing and consuming foods from unpermitted street vendors.

Thurston County receives complaints over illegal food vendors

Thurston County claimed that over the past year, multiple illegally operated street vendors have been shut down by health inspectors for operating unsafely and without valid food permits.

Many of the hazards included foods stored at room temperature for prolonged or unknown periods of time, foods left unattended on the ground, potentially exposed to pests, unmonitored cooking temperatures, no handwashing stations on site, unknown drinking water sources, and lack of food worker cards present on site.

“Not only do these businesses pose a public health threat, but they also impact our local economy, primarily the businesses that are regularly inspected and permitted to operate safely within the County,” Thurston County stated in a release.

Since August, Thurston County has received several food safety complaints regarding unpermitted street vendors, some operating under the names of Tacos Los Prohibidos and Tacos Gardenias.

A complete list of licensed food vendors within Thurston County was provided:

• Birrieria Los Primos: 6125 Pacific Ave. in Lacey.
• Hot Dogs San Jose: 728 4th Ave. in Olympia.
• K&E Snacks and More: 9525 Hwy 12 in Rochester.
• Tacos La Chinita: 2319 4th Ave. in Olympia.
• Bulgogi Hustle: Various locations.
• Citra Pizza: Various locations.

Snohomish County reports illegal food vendors

A similar presence of illegal food vendors has popped up in Snohomish County as its health department has received more than 160 complaints regarding food stands in the area, according to KING 5.

In addition to the complaints, three people have reported sicknesses caused by unpermitted food vendors in the county.

“There are no handwashing facilities. We have no idea where this product is coming from. There is a lot of risk,” a board member with the Washington Hospitality Association, Kerri Lonergan-Dreke, told KING 5.

Snohomish County has issued 24 cease and desist orders on the illegal food stands in response to the complaints, although the issue remains a large concern.

Local businesses have also been negatively impacted, including Ray Quero, who owns Tacos Penachos, and has taken all the correct steps to apply and gain permit approval for his food truck.

“It’s really hard. Lots of permits, fees, paperwork. It’s a long way to go to open a business. It’s a lot of investment and it takes a long time,” Quero told KING 5. “People like [illegal vendors] because it is cheap and it’s good. Obviously, it’s cheap because they don’t have to pay all the expenses that we have to.”

All permitted food vendors will have a county-issued permit that is placed in a visible location within their business. If a permit is not visible, ask the vendor to provide a copy of its permit.

200+ legal food vendors file complaints about illegal vendors

Approximately one week ago, more than 200 licensed Mexican restaurants, with the Washington State Mexican Restaurant Fair Play Coalition, asked city and state officials to address illegal taco stands operating across the state.

The coalition filed formal complaints with evidence of more than 50 unlicensed taco stands operating without King County Health permits in Seattle, Burien, Kent, Auburn, Federal Way, Tacoma, and the Tri-Cities, according to KOMO News.

The coalition is preparing to file a lawsuit in hopes of enforcing regulations and financial damages. The coalition will also launch a public awareness campaign centered around the health risks from food vendors without health permits.

“Our members are hardworking, tax-paying business owners who meet every inspection and permit requirement,” Chair of the coalition, Josiah Gaytán told KOMO News. “These illegal operations not only undercut legitimate restaurants, they threaten public health and erode trust in local government.”

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