Catch Them Ridin’ Dirty

Los Angeles’s food trucks have transformed the industry’s once-generic menu of hot dogs and peanuts to trendy, gourmet treats like cupcakes on a stick. How else would we have gotten the Korean-Mexican fusion known as Korean barbeque tacos without the flexibility available within the food cart business?  Yet, while the variety of choices available in these once-modest carts is commendable,  their wide consumer base could be dangerously affected by partaking if the carts are not properly monitored. As a result, we support the L.A. County supervisors’ tentative decision in favor of a stricter food regulation policy that will grade thousands of food trucks based on a similar safety standard as restaurants.

Although we encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of L.A. food trucks, we also believe they should be held to the same requirements as other establishments when it comes to safety, since they are in the business of selling food to others. Making sure food trucks are sanitary is especially important now, because the industry is quickly growing and serving mass quantities of people. Additionally, Los Angeles should extend food quality requirements—such as regulations monitoring trans fats—to these trucks. Stricter standards are necessary to ensure the protection of the general public

Some dissenters focus on the cost of these inspections. They worry that any extra fees or inconveniences to food truck operators could squash incentives for future businesses and innovation. To this, Dr. Jonathan Fielding of L.A.’s Department of Public Health said that industries should not worry because there are currently no extra fees. If this changes, he will notify the Board of Supervisors and propose a new payment plan. In terms of inconvenience, the operators should already be following basic food-safety procedures, and so this extra rating system should not be unduly difficult for them to follow.

Yet, there are certain aspects of the current ordinance that should be changed before it goes into effect. For example, the requirement that they report their routes is unnecessary. This would restrict the basic business model of food trucks, many of which try to enhance their allure by not having set routes, sometimes even tweeting their next location. In addition, the county must make sure to narrowly define what constitutes a food truck—perhaps based on revenue—to avoid including the innocent lemonade stand of your local neighbor within the category.

Regardless of these specific issues, the ordinance as a whole is a necessary step for the safety of L.A. residents and visitors. Consumers should face a choice between trying the banana cupcake lollipop or the strawberry, not between risking a foodborne illness or playing it safe.