Kern County Grand Jury
• 2025-2026
Kern County Public Health Services Environmental Health Division - Street Food Vendors - Are They Safe?
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 8 findings
F1
MFPUs are not given inspection grades like restaurants.
F2
Mobile food vendors are not found on the Safe Diner’s website portal.
F3
Kern County’s online Safe Diner Portal is found to be difficult to locate.
F4
Due to lack of funding from the Kern County Supervisors there is no revenue to hire additional Environmental Health Specialists for the unpermitted food vendors.
F5
Due to pay inequities, the EHD is continuing to lose trained Environmental Health Specialists to other counties.
F6
Normal work hours of the unpermitted food vendor Inspectors do not coincide with the customary operating hours of the unpermitted food vendors.
F7
Unpermitted food vendor Inspectors do not wear professional uniform while performing their field inspections; this diminishes their ability to operate safely.
F8
Law enforcement does not consistently provide priority service to EHD while conducting field inspections for unpermitted food vendors.
Recommendations 7
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R1By July 31, 2026, the EHD should revise the Inspection Policy for the MFPUs to include publicly posted letter grades similar to “brick and mortar” restaurants. (Finding F1)
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R2By July 31, 2026, the EHD should increase expansion of the Kern County Safe Diner portal to include MFPUs and inspection infractions. (Finding F2)
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R3By May 31, 2026, the EHD should increase outreach and marketing for the Safe Diner portal, such as adding it to www.kerncounty.com. (Finding F3)
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R4By November 30, 2026, the Kern County Department of Health request the Board of Supervisors provide funding for additional unpermitted vendor inspectors/techs. (Findings
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R5By July 1, 2026, the EHD should mandate professional uniforms for the unpermitted food vendor inspectors. (Finding F7)
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R6By November 30, 2026, the Board of Supervisors open a pay inequity study of the Environmental Health Specialist/Tech pay scale and adjust accordingly. (Finding F5)
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R7By July 31, 2026, the EHD and law-enforcement agencies should prioritize coordination while conducting unpermitted vendor field inspections. (Finding F8) COMMENTS: The Grand Jury commends the Kern County Department of Public Health and the Environmental Health Division for their ongoing efforts to protect public health and ensure safe food practices. The Grand Jury also expresses appreciation to all staff who provided information and for their cooperation throughout this inquiry. RESPONSE DEADLINES: • REQUIRED WITHIN 90 DAYS FROM: Board of Supervisors