Student events shut down by Board of Health
There has been an increased number of activities involving food at Utah State University that have been shut down by the Bear River Health Department for food handling violations this year.
Two USU clubs have had activities shut down by the health department, in addition to several local restaurants tailgating before the football game against the University of Utah, said Max Gyllenskog, the manager of Temporary Food Safety of the Bear River Health Department.
The USU Institute Men’s Association (IMA), which is affiliated with the Logan LDS Institute, held its annual “Burger Fest” to raise awareness about the institute program, Thursday Sept. 16.
However, the event was shut down by the health department, Brad Clarke, the interchapter secretary, said, because IMA wasn’t aware of the standards required for a public event involving food.
“We didn’t know all of the requirements we needed to meet, so there were some hurt feelings,” Clarke said.
Gyllenskog said some of the requirements the clubs didn’t meet included having a hand-washing station, a way to clean the cooking instruments and keeping the food covered.
To comply with the regulations, Clarke said, the IMA got a temporary event permit, the hand-washing station and met the other requirements to continue the “Burger Fest” Monday.
“If we would have quit, the health inspector would have won,” Clarke said, “but we met all the requirements and held the Burger Fest the next Monday. It proves to the university it can be done.”
Clarke said he does not view the health department as an enemy.
He said the department did the group a favor by shutting the event down, and the group will be more prepared for future events and able to help protect the public from possible food poisoning.
Most of the tailgaters were private parties and were not required to meet the requirements, Gyllenskog said.
However, if a group advertises or charges money for food, the event is considered a public event and needs to meet the health requirements.
Temporary events require a temporary event permit for a specific time and location, he said.
At least one person who is well trained and has an individual food handlers permit should be at the event as well, Gyllenskog said.
Groups in need of additional information can contact the Bear River Health Department at 792-6510.
-cmoffitt@cc.usu.edu