BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — Local food vendors are facing new challenges after being informed they must obtain a mobile food facility permit to sell at school events under the Kern High School District. Anakaren Munguia, owner of “Aguas Karen,” expressed frustration, stating, “What they’re doing is unfair, and at the end of the day, we’re doing the fundraising for the students.”
For six years, Munguia has sold snacks and drinks at high school events, donating part of her profits to student clubs and sports. However, she and other vendors were recently told they could not sell without the required permit.
Aguas Karen
Munguia explained that vendors without a food truck are not allowed on campus until they secure the permits. She noted that neither the Kern High School District nor the public health department directly notified vendors. Instead, an email was sent to schools outlining the updated guidelines. Munguia learned of the change from an athletic director who informed her she could not attend a homecoming game without a red sticker, which is obtained through the public health department’s mobile food facility permit.
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The permit, costing about $300 each, has never been required for school events before. Munguia estimated the total cost for permits could exceed $22,000. She believes the change was prompted by a complaint from another business. Gabriel Gonzalez, owner of Carniceria Gonzalez, emphasized the impact on students, saying, “I come from a low-income family. So funds like this that are donated to the schools benefit us.”
Amy Rutledge, assistant director of Kern Public Health, stated that the health code has not changed, except for the addition of compact mobile food operations. She said the school district requested the permit requirement, but public health received complaints about vendors not operating within permit parameters.
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The Kern High School District issued a statement stating, “The Kern High School District has a long-standing, positive partnership with our local vendors and the Kern County Department of Public Health. We look forward to continuing our collaboration as we work with the health department to ensure that local vendors have the opportunity to safely sell food at our schools in support of student fundraising efforts. The district is currently meeting with the Health Department to review requirements for the many events hosted on our campuses and look forward to clarifying these with our school sites and vendors soon.”