MISHAWAKA — It's the season for festivals, fun and food. But have you ever thought about how safe it is to eat the food at your favorite summer events? And who's making sure those vendors are following health regulations?

WSBT tagged along with St. Joseph County Health Department inspectors as they checked out some of the vendors at Mishawaka's SummerFest.

Before a vendor can open for business at any major fair or festival, the Health Department makes sure everything is sanitary and up to code.

"Good morning! Are you guys ready for an inspection?" asked St. Joseph County Health Department Food Service Coordinator Rita Hooten.

Hooten started asking tough questions right away.

"Is this what you're using to wash your hands?" she asked the vendors at Sirloin Tips as she washed her own hands in the sink.

"Did they pick up the onions off the floor?" she asked a fellow inspector at Awesome Onions.

Hooten and her team of health inspectors might be the people festival food vendors dread the most.

Hooten told WSBT the most important part of her job is to keep everyone else safe.

Tukie's Broken Drum vendor Bobbi Craven said she's seen a couple vendors cry after an inspection from Hooten.

As the inspections continued Thursday morning, Hooten also found a cleaning product in a spray bottle without a label on it inside one vendor's cooking area — a major violation.

"If somebody grabbed it thinking it was something else, you could spray the food and have somebody sick," Hooten explained to the vendor.

"We make sure the food is hot, that it's cooked properly, there's no bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods," Hooten explained to WSBT. "[Vendors] have to use some kind of utensil, they have to wear gloves, hats, hair nets, no jewelry on the arms."

Once each vendor passes the initial inspection they get a temporary food permit. It has to be posted where the public can see it, but not where anyone can take it. State law requires the health department to inspect all vendors every 24 hours.

"It's just more nerve wrecking getting ready for them," said Bobbi Craven. "Just getting all the things into place and making sure all the temperatures are correct."

During the inspection at Awesome Onions, health inspector Hooten didn't see the double check valve that keeps the water from being contaminated.

"As soon it's connected then I'll let you guys open," she said.

The vendor found the valve and connected it, and Hooten handed over a permit. But all the vendors knew the first visit was just one of many.

If you think you see a health code violation at a local festival, call the Health Department and someone will investigate the complaint the next business day.

Health experts say there is one basic thing we can all do to reduce our risk of getting sick: wash our hands, especially before eating.

If you're out at a summer festival and can't get to a sink, the Health Department says it's also OK to use a hand sanitizer.