Countywide : Illegally Prepared Food Target of Probe

The county soon will crack down on illegally prepared food sold door-to-door, from the back of cars and in ethnic markets and other locations, a public health official said Friday.

Robert E. Merryman, director of the environmental health division of the county Health Care Agency, said his office has noticed an increase in illegally prepared and packaged foods in the past four years and is sending out a final warning before going after violators.

“We’re getting ready to crack down, but before we do this, we want to reach out to the general public,” Merryman said.

In the past few weeks, his office has distributed flyers in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and English to various ethnic markets in the county warning consumers and grocers to be suspicious of foods that do not appear to be properly packaged.

Merryman said his office has received several complaints about door-to-door food vendors and food businesses operating out of private homes. But he has received no complaints of illness.

The environmental health division has routinely found full-scale manufacturing operations in garages, back yards and homes, Merryman said.

State law requires that food sold to the public be prepared and stored in a licensed and inspected facility. Those who prepare food in their homes are guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and or six months in jail.