With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Letter Grades to be Considered for Food Trucks
Photo by Lucyrk in LA via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
Photo by Lucyrk in LA via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
As food trucks and carts gain a foothold in Southern California's political spectrum, Los Angeles County's Public Health Department is proposing to even the playing field, at least when it comes to letter grading. Restaurants currently have to display health inspection-based letter grades, but food trucks and carts do not. Currently, mobile food facilities, as the county calls trucks and carts, must be inspected and certified annually for structural and physical requirements. Another annual inspection looks at food handling, storage practices and facility hygiene. Under the proposed ordinance , inspections would increase to two inspections per year.
One group of food truck owners have already stated their support for the move. "The SoCal [Mobile Food Vendors Association] sees this as a positive step for the mobile food vending industry," the organization wrote on its blog. "Grades will help the public make informed decisions about what they eat, and dispel myths such as “those trucks aren’t regulated.”
Erin Glenn of Asociacion de Loncheros, another food truck group, also agreed, as long as enforcement remained fair and equitable like with restaurants, she told the LA Times.
Sponsored message
The proposal (.pdf) was scheduled to be heard this week, but has been pushed to a future date.
Recently: Gold for the Defense: 'Let a thousand food trucks roll.'
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
