Wake County inspectors are checking around 155 food stands, food trucks and tents before the Tar Heel State fair opens on Thursday, Oct. 15. The work began Monday, Oct. 12, with each vendor needing to clear health and safety checks before getting the temporary permit required to serve food.
Don Mial, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, said, "The fair is one of our most cherished traditions, and as it heads into its 174th year, we’re proud to help keep it safe". He added, "When visitors take that first bite, they can feel confident knowing our inspectors have done their part."
Wake County inspections
Inspectors are checking that food is stored at the correct temperatures, that equipment used for food handling is clean and functioning properly, that booths, food tents and trucks are sanitary, and that food handlers follow proper hygiene practices. Wake County Government also provides a guide for vendors and a dedicated phone line at 919-664-7700 for questions about the permit process.
The inspections matter because the N.C. State Fair draws nearly a million visitors to Wake County each year. Temporary Food Establishment permits may be required for food or drink vendors at fairs, festivals or similar events, so the county’s review is part of the process that lets vendors operate before opening day.
N.C. State Fair permits
Wake County food inspectors conduct food safety checks throughout the N.C. State Fair, but the county did not say whether any problems turned up in this year’s inspections. Vendors still have to pass the checks before they can serve food, which leaves the practical outcome tied to whether each stand, truck and tent clears the review before Thursday.
The immediate question for vendors is whether all around 155 will receive the permit in time to open with the fair. For fairgoers, the standard is simpler: the food counters they reach on opening day will have already gone through the county’s temperature, sanitation, equipment and hygiene checks.
