Consumers warned over illegal ice cream sellers

As the summer months approach and the weather eventually starts to warm up, an ice cream can be an ideal way to cool down.

But officers from ERYC are urging people to check the ice cream van they are buying from is licensed correctly.

Mobile ice cream vans need a licence to trade within the East Riding and that licence also has a number of conditions attached to it in order to protect the public.

All licensed street traders in the East Riding area are subject to a satisfactory police check, need to have a food safety qualification and should be registered under the food hygiene rating scheme, they need to have public liability insurance while all vehicles are checked to ensure they have a current MOT.

Licensed street traders are also issued with a pink and white exterior plate which is displayed on the vehicle along with an identification badge so the public can identify a genuine trader.

Only those who are trading as part of local fetes, festivals or markets are exempt from needing a licence.

Louise Wilson, licensing manager at ERYC, said: “As we move into the summer months there will be an increase in the number of mobile ice cream vans on our streets as well as at seaside resorts.

“While the very large majority of those operating will be legitimate there will be some who will be operating without the correct licences.

“Not only are they taking trade away from the genuine businesses, they could also be posing a potential health risk to the public as they may not have the correct food registration in place or have had the relevant food safety checks.

“They could also pose a safety risk as, unlike our licensed traders, their backgrounds are not checked by the council.

“If we find traders without a licence in place we will look to prosecute and I would ask people to be vigilant and if they see a mobile ice cream van operating without a pink and white plate on display to contact the council’s licensing team.”