Denver officials defend use of bleach on unlicensed taco vendor’s food

Denver wellbeing officers defended an inspector s decision to pour bleach into an unlicensed taco vendor s food over the weekend after a video of the case spread on social media Two Denver physical condition inspectors approached a table operated by Tacos Tacolorado near the intersection of Evans Avenue and Colorado Boulevard on Saturday evening Vitality authorities had previously cited the vendor and thrown out its food for failing to follow various food safety rules according to inspection reports reviewed by The Denver Post When inspectors approached Saturday and urged that the food be destroyed the vendor placed several food into the back of a truck prompting one strength inspector to pour bleach into the remaining food according to Emily Williams spokeswoman for the Denver Department of Residents Strength and Atmosphere The development was caught on video showing the inspector dumping the chemical into plastic containers of food on a tablecloth-covered table Though uncommon using bleach to intentionally contaminate food is a tool inspectors use to ensure food can t be served stated Danica Lee Denver s director of residents robustness investigations It is a tool that we use not really often because we prefer to use different methods but from time to time it is necessary she commented Related Articles Denver wants to increase fines against landlords who don t comply with city s new residential rental license activity The fitness department also provided images from the Saturday inspection showing a thermometer stuck into meat that evidenced a temperature of degrees She reported inspectors had previously approached Tacolorado s staff twice both in late October The vendor was given two cease-and-desist letters and inspection reports show it was dinged for failing to have handwashing stations for improper sanitation and for temperature concerns among other alleged issues The food was also being prepared in a residential rather than commercial kitchen which carries further exposure Lee explained More than pounds of meat and food were disposed over during those two interactions the agency revealed and the vendor s staff cooperated with inspectors Tacolorado has also received multiple cease-and-desist letters and administrative citations But when inspectors arrived Saturday night staff began moving food into a locked truck which prompted the inspectors to use bleach to contaminate the remaining food A message sent to Tacolorado through its social media page was not at once returned A California taco vendor listed in the company s business filings also did not straightaway return a social media message seeking comment Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get soundness news sent straight to your inbox