Food Inspections Begin For Tulsa State Fair

Food inspections began at the Tulsa State Fair Tuesday. Inspectors will make sure all 220 food vendors are operating cleanly and safely.

Health inspectors want to make sure when people are trying new and delicious foods at the fair, they are doing so safely.

This is not just a one-day operation. Health inspectors will keep coming back during the 11 days.

The folks with Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos traveled to Tulsa from Minnesota for the fair. Richie O’Neil is the owner and said a lot of preparation goes in before opening day.

"It's kind of a 'Jack of all Trades' situation,” said O’Neil. “You need to have a CDL just to drive the thing, food management certification, need to know how much food to order obviously, got to put out a safe and good product and that's what we pride ourselves on."

The Tulsa Health Department will check each of the 220 food vendors to make sure they have the right licensing, permits, and equipment.

"Two of our inspectors will go back to their food truck, and inspect their truck to make sure they have soap, hot water, paper towels, thermometer, and the truck is clean,” said Reshelle Johnson, an Environmental Health Specialist with the Tulsa Health Department. “We'll be doing that every single day just to make sure that the attendees that come, when they eat and enjoy themselves, nobody gets sick."

Even though the permits will be issued today, the food vendors still have to make sure they are keeping up with their cleaning because the Health Department will go each day to check.

"Every day we'll do what's called 'spot checks' so that people continue to have good hot water, and continue to wash their hands properly, continue to have good temperatures because even though we check you today, we want to make sure that on day 11, nobody's still going to get sick," said Johnson.

O’Neil said his truck has never failed an inspection, and it’s important to keep up with the rules so they keep people from getting sick.

"Go by the food code,” said O’Neil. “Serve safe is what we're all certified on, you know the ins and outs, the danger zones, and what to make yourself aware of all the time."

People can come out and enjoy the Tulsa State Fair starting on Thursday and ending on October 9.