ZMC Health Department Conducts Health Inspections at the Fair

ZANESVILLE, OH – The 179th Muskingum County Fair is in full swing and the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department is out making sure everyone has a fun and safe time.

Every year on the second day of the fair, the Health Department conducts food safety inspections at each food stall, trailer, and truck.

Samantha Wantz, a Registered Environmental Health Specialist with the Health Department, says they double check that the vendors are storing food properly, keeping food at a safe temperature, as well as providing and maintaining a clean environment for employees to prepare the food.

“First of all, the biggest thing is food borne illness. We want to make sure that this food is safe for everyone to eat and enjoy.” Wantz said. “And not have illness next week or later on this week, so we’re mostly looking for safe temperatures, safe stacking, making sure they’re properly washing their hands and have the proper, safe sinks for that purpose.”

Wantz says after a thorough inspection, each vendor is presented with a report that looks for critical and non-critical violations.

“Your critical violations would be those stacking issues, temperature issues.” Wantz said. “Or anything that would certainly cause someone a foodborne illness and non-criticals would be things like cleaning or something that’s not going to directly cause someone illness.”

If you have any questions or concerns, the Health Department has their van set up right next to the Veteran’s Complex.