Health inspectors checking temporary food stands

Last year, the Cape Girardeau County health inspectors were responsible for protecting more than 150,000 people from food poisoning at temporary food stands.

Throughout the summer, outdoor events bring a large number of the food stands to Cape Girardeau County. Last year, the health department inspected 95 stands at 11 special events.

On Saturday, environmental public health specialist Lynn Lancaster will inspect nine temporary food stands at the Arts Council's annual ArtsCape. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau.

"Our primary goal is to protect the public so they don't get food poisoning," Lancaster said.

Lancaster's job is to make sure stands follow the health codes. For example, all hot and cold foods must be kept at proper temperatures, hand-washing stations must be present and food must remain covered.

"The only problem with the food stands is that they are outdoors, which means they have to deal with insects and that sort of thing," Lancaster said.

Pam Cook, owner of Lil' Country Store in Jackson, will serve food at a temporary stand at ArtsCape. This will be the first year for Cook to have a stand at the art festival, but she has had a stand at the SEMO District Fair in the past.

Since the temporary food stand health codes are similar to those at restaurants, Cook is familiar with the guidelines. "We have a restaurant, so we already know everything we need to have to keep the food safe," she said.

"You never want any bad food to go out there," she said. "We want our customers to come back."

If a specific health inspection guideline isn't followed at a food stand, Lancaster said the inspectors will generally bring it to the owner's attention.

"It's not a confrontational thing," he said. "We try to work with them and help them know what they need to do."

Typically in Cape Girardeau County, the same vendors continue to bring their stands to the SEMO District Fair, Jackson Homecomers and the Fourth of July festivals, Lancaster said. "They're all familiar with the guidelines, and so they know the proper stuff to do," he said.

Weeklong events require health inspectors to check out the food stands on a nightly basis. At last year's SEMO District Fair, more than 400 inspections were done on 52 stands.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246