The Casper-Natrona County Health Department ordered scantily-clad pilgrims "to cease and desist" the distribution of Tofurky samples Thursday afternoon.

Two women dressed as sexy pilgrims from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals received a reprieve from the cold temperatures and Wyoming wind earlier than they wanted after Bob Harrington, director of county health, told them they had to leave because they didn't have a temporary permit to pass out food to the public.

"The issue is whenever you are passing out food to the public, we need to get the organizers in here before the event to go over the dos and don'ts," Harrington said.

He said organizers must be aware of what temperatures to serve the food and how to safely prepare it.

Temporary food events are a major contributor to large disease outbreaks according to medical literature, Harrington said.

Thursday's cold temperatures probably kept the Tofurky from spoiling, and the PETA women gladly showed Harrington the commercial packaging the Tofurky came in.

"I don't know that the public was at risk [during this event], but it is a question of treating everyone the same," Harrington said.

Temporary food permits are easy to obtain, Harrington said, and religious and charity organizations can get them for free. He encourages any organization planning to serve food to the public to call the health department at (307) 235-9340 to see if a temporary food permit is necessary.

The PETA pilgrims were in Casper Thursday handing out Tofurky and promoting a vegetarian Thanksgiving. They had been at the corner of Second and Center streets for about 40 minutes before Harrington approached them.

Amanda Schinke, a spokeswoman for PETA, said the woman looked into special permits before the demonstration but were told they did not need one.

The sexy pilgrims complied and handed out vegetarian literature instead of the Tofurky, Schinke said.

Contact reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.