Food Truck Checks: El Paso County Health Department Speeds Up Inspections

El Paso County Health Department has been busy catching up on food truck inspections. After a report highlighted that nearly half of the food trucks were way behind on their checks, the department sprang into action. In just one month, they managed to reduce the backlog from 150 to 40. The health department has been working around the clock, including weekends, to get these inspections done. Sammi Jo Lawson, a spokesperson for the department, mentioned that their goal is to inspect all facilities, including mobile units, while they are operational. But what does "operational" mean? According to Lawson, food trucks don't need to be serving customers at the time of inspection. They just need to be running, with hot and cold water available. This approach allows inspectors to check the trucks even when they're not in service.The department chose to tackle this backlog after the peak season, which might explain why some food trucks weren't serving customers during inspections. This timing makes it harder to spot certain violations, like improper food handling or lack of handwashing. So, why didn't the health department address this issue sooner, during the busy summer months? Lawson explained that they identified the problem during their annual review at the end of the summer, which coincided with a records request for this information. The department admits they need to improve their planning to ensure timely inspections. The El Paso County Department of Public Health also prioritizes inspecting food establishments with complaints or a history of non-compliance. This approach helps them focus their resources on areas that need the most attention. While the department has made significant progress, there's still work to be done. The remaining backlog of 40 food trucks needs to be inspected, and the department must ensure that this situation doesn't happen again.