Avoid eating food at unpermitted food vendors, health officials warn
Oct 28, 2025, 4:51 PM | Updated: 5:55 pm
Chef Manuel Gonzalez shows a completed burger as he works in the Grassy Cow food truck in Heber City on Friday, April 29, 2022. (Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake County Health Department warned Utah residents on Tuesday about the potential dangers of eating food prepared by “pop-up” or mobile food vendors who do not have a valid health department food service permit.
While food vendors offer a unique twist on a sit-down restaurant, potential customers should ensure that the correct permits from the Salt Lake County Health Department are visible or available upon request.
“Food vendors without a permit haven’t been inspected and may not follow essential food safety practices like regular hand washing and maintaining food at proper temperatures,” said Andrea Gamble, food protection supervisor for the Salt Lake County Health Department Food Protection Bureau. “Decrease your chances of foodborne illness by confirming that food vendors you visit prominently display a current Salt Lake County Health Department permit on their vehicle, cart or booth.”
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Food service permits are specific to each business its owners, rather than to a specific location or address. Each food vendor must maintain their own individual permit specific to their menu, operations and employees.
“Our inspectors are here to help food vendors be successful and keep food safe for people to enjoy,” Gamble said. “Help do your part to keep yourself healthy by only patronizing businesses that have taken the important steps necessary to maintain a permit.”
Salt Lake County health codes prohibit businesses from selling or providing food to the public without a valid food service permit. The Salt Lake County Health Department Food Protection Bureau is available to help mobile food vendors and pop-up food vendors obtain the right permit for their businesses.
“Operating without a permit isn’t safe for the public, and it’s not fair to the thousands of permitted food businesses in the county that are operating legally and receiving inspections,” Gamble said.
Community members who identify a food service without a permit may report these vendors by visiting SaltLakeHealth.org and clicking “Report a Problem.”
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