During the Lenten season, fish fries become popular destinations on Fridays, especially in the Pittsburgh area.
Organizations wanting to operate a Lenten fish fry need a temporary permit from the Allegheny County Health Department, to ensure the public is eating food that is safe.
Amanda Mator, the program manager with the department’s food safety program, tells KDKA Radio the temporary permits are different from the normal green-colored ones you see at permanent restaurants.
They’re white with the Allegheny County Health Department logo on them.
What does food safety for a fish fry mean?
“Food safety starts from the beginning, properly thawing fish, making sure that equipment is properly working, refrigeration, making sure there’s sanitizing, they’re washing their hands, they’re preventing bare hand contact,” said Mator.
Generally speaking fish fries are safe for consumers.