SALT LAKE CITY -- As hundreds crowded into Sugarmont Plaza for dinner Monday, a small team from the Salt Lake County Health Department joined them. However, their visit was for work not food.
“It’s a great opportunity,” said Tom Trevino, a supervisor of food protection for the health department.
The event, hosted by the Food Truck League, was a chance for Trevino’s staff to visit a handful of the county’s 80 permitted food trucks.
A crew of four inspectors split up the work, and together they discovered that all nine trucks had committed violations. The majority of them were minor, ranging from milk stored at the wrong temperature to a permit not posted in public view. But one truck, Chop City, was forced to close when inspectors found its “hand sink” was not properly working.
“They have a set amount of water,” Trevino said. “When that’s gone or if their pump doesn’t work, it becomes a problem immediately.”
FOX 13 News caught up with the owners of Chop City outside the health department Wednesday. While they did not want to do an interview, the owner said they were able to remedy the problem. By Wednesday evening, they were allowed to reopen for business.
“You just keep up on it. It’s like keeping your room clean. You keep your room clean, and then you can go out and play,” said Chef T, who runs Q4U BBQ.
His truck was also cited by county inspectors Monday, but the violation was minor--a bag of chips placed in the sink.
According to the county, it’s rare that they don’t find a violation following an inspection of any restaurant. Monday’s numbers didn’t strike them as unusual, but it should remind business owners that they are watching them.
“It’s a warning and an assurance to the public that we are looking out for their safety,” Trevino said.
