The City of Laredo Health Department's Environmental Health Services Division would like to remind the community to only eat at restaurants and buy food from establishments with a proper food license to prevent illness caused by food contamination.  Street vendors should have a permit sticker on their windshield.  Anyone hoping to open a restaurant should obtain a City Food License (prices vary according to number of employees) at the Health Department, located at 2600 Cedar.  We would be happy to help you with all the necessary procedures.  City ordinances consider any place that prepares food for sale, sells, and/or gives away food products, as a food product establishment, requiring them to obtain a City Food License.

 

The Food Handler's Training (for those involved in food preparation and handling) is held every Tuesday at 2:00pm and every Friday at 9:00am.  The cost for Food Handler Certificate is $20.00 and is valid for 2 years. 

 

Persons or fundraising groups who would like to sell low-risk food items as a one-day project must obtain a Temporary City Food Permit.  The fee for temporary food permits is $20.00 per food vending organization.  Permits must be obtained at the Health Department.  Low-risk food items include hot dogs, frito pies, nachos, chips, popcorn, sodas, coffee, hot chocolate or candy.  Food vendors are advised to set up their food establishment on private property, and not in streets, right of ways, or street easements.  The Health Department will gladly explain the basic requirements to sell food and the correct way to prepare it in order to promote food service hygiene and sanitation.

 

The Health Department will cite food vendors who sell food without permits and/or vendors who are in violation of City Food Sanitation Ordinances.  Laredo Municipal Court fines could range up to $2,000.  The rules of food preparation and personal hygiene apply to all food service workers, whether they are paid professionals or volunteers.

 

We appreciate your cooperation and assistance.  Through these efforts the city maintains high quality standards in food preparation and handling which has greatly reduced food-borne diseases.  For more information please contact the City of Laredo Environmental Health Division at (956) 795-4904 or e-mail: mjimenez@ci.laredo.tx.us .