It's an all too common occurrence: another story about people getting ill after eating at a restaurant of food vendor. According to the Kern County Public Health Services, "Each year, 1 in 6 Americans gets sick by consuming contaminated food. Foodborne illness is a common, yet preventable, public health problem."
To help combat the problem, the Public Health Services are encouraging residents to "look for the sticker."
"All facilities that sell food to the public must obtain a health permit. Restaurants have a letter grade in their window and mobile food vendors have a sticker affixed to their vehicle or cart," said the Public Health Services. "Vendors that sell food without a permit or a sticker have not been vetted for food safety. These unpermitted vendors potentially use unsafe food practices and risk making our community sick through foodborne illness."
If you are out looking for a bite to eat, Public Health Services suggest keeping an eye out for the those letter grades or stickers.
If you don't see them, you can report food vendors that don't have permits by using the "Safe Diner" smart phone app. Not only does the app allow you to submit a complaint, it also "allows residents to make informed dining decisions by providing access to the latest health inspection reports on their favorite eateries."
You can download the app for Android or in the Apple App Store.
You can also call 661-321-3000.
