Clark County is facing a growing public health risk tied to a surge of unpermitted food carts operating around popular event venues, as reported by Clark County Public Health. Concerns have spiked due to these vendors lacking crucial food safety measures like refrigeration, clean water, and handwashing facilities, threatening the community with an increased risk for foodborne illnesses. Health officials are now urging residents to only buy food from vendors that have been inspected and display a food service operating permit.
The hotspot for these unauthorized food carts has been identified primarily in the parking lots of the RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater, particularly following concert events. Here, vendors are known to quickly set up shop and serve hot dogs to concertgoers, despite not having the means to properly store or prepare food. With the number of these makeshift establishments growing, Clark County Public Health has been struggling to effectively discourage their operations. According to Dr. Alan Melnick, Public Health director and county health officer, “These unpermitted food carts are dangerous and putting people at risk for foodborne illness.” The problem is not contained to Clark County, with reports of similar unregulated food cart appearances in Portland and Seattle.
In their battle against these unpermitted food carts, Clark County Public Health's Food Safety team has made several attempts to intervene, but to little avail. Vendors have largely ignored public health directives, continuing to potentially expose customers to pathogens like salmonella, E. coli, and norovirus. The county is now collaborating with partners including Live Nation and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to devise solutions aimed at safeguarding community health.
Vendors should conspicuously display their Clark County Public Health food service operating permit, and customers have the right to ask to see the permit if it's not immediately visible. Additionally, past inspection scores and permitted establishments can be searched through the Public Health website.
