10 unpermitted fruit, taco stands closed by Health Department in the past month
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has closed down 10 unpermitted food vendors over the past month, according to recent data.
All the vendors targeted were either fruit carts or taco stands. Half of the vendors were closed last week alone.
The Health Department can issue permits on the spot to unpermitted vendors if they meet food safety requirements, but if vendors don’t meet requirements, they’re asked to leave the area and throw away unsafe food.
“These are mostly road-side vendors that haven’t gotten the proper permits to operate. We hear about them mostly from complaints,” Kenny Via, Health Department spokesperson, said in an email.
Food safety requirements for vendors are that food is prepared in an approved kitchen, is from an approved source and is stored at safe temperatures. Vendors also are required to provide adequate handwashing facilities and access to a bathroom for employees.
Vendors need a permit from the Health Department if they sell meat, eggs, fish, dairy, cut or prepared fruits and vegetables, or prepared foods like burgers or tacos. No permits are required for vendors who sell commercially packed food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated or whole, uncut fruits or vegetables.
Here are the food vendors that were closed down, and the reasons for closing, according to the Health Department’s website.
Fruit cart vendor at South 56th & Pacific Ave, Tacoma
- Additional reason for closure: Lack of handwashing facilities. Lack of refrigeration or temperature control. Lack of employee restroom. Unknown food source.
- Closed: April 24
Taco Vendor at 84th & Pacific Ave, Tacoma
- Additional reason for closure: Lack of handwashing facilities. Lack of refrigeration or temperature control. Lack of employee restroom. Unknown food source.
- Closed: April 24
Taco Vendor at 74th & South Tacoma Way, Tacoma
- Additional reason for closure: Lack of handwashing facilities. Lack of refrigeration or temperature control. Lack of employee restroom. Unknown food source.
- Closed: April 24
Fruit Cart Vendor at 72nd & Wapato Park, Tacoma
- Additional reason for closure: Lack of handwashing facilities. Lack of refrigeration or temperature control. Lack of employee restroom. Unknown food source.
- Closed: April 23
Fruit Cart Vendor at 176th & Canyon Rd, Frederickson
- Additional reason for closure: Lack of handwashing facilities. Lack of refrigeration or temperature control. Lack of employee restroom. Unknown food source.
- Closed: April 23
Fruit Cart Vendor at 56th & Pacific Ave, Tacoma
- Additional reason for closure: Lack of handwashing facilities. Lack of refrigeration or temperature control. Lack of employee restroom. Unknown food source.
- Closed: April 1
Fruit Cart Vendor at 84th & Pacific Ave, Tacoma
- Additional reason for closure: Lack of handwashing facilities. Lack of refrigeration or temperature control. Lack of employee restroom. Unknown food source.
- Closed: April 1
Fruit Cart Vendor at 72nd & Portland Ave, Tacoma
- Additional reason for closure: Lack of handwashing facilities. Lack of refrigeration or temperature control. Lack of employee restroom. Unknown food source.
- Closed: April 1
Fruit Cart Vendor at 38th & M St, Tacoma
- Additional reason for closure: Lack of handwashing facilities. Lack of refrigeration or temperature control. Lack of employee restroom. Unknown food source.
- Closed: March 31
Fruit Cart Vendor at 38th & Pine St, Tacoma
- Additional reason for closure: Lack of handwashing facilities. Lack of refrigeration or temperature control. Lack of employee restroom. Unknown food source.
- Closed: March 31
Fruit Cart Vendor at 72nd & Portland Ave, Tacoma
- Additional reason for closure: Lack of handwashing facilities. Lack of refrigeration or temperature control. Lack of employee restroom. Unknown food source.
- Closed: March 23
Food vendors operating without permits is nothing new, but the Health Department noticed an especially steep uptick in unpermitted vendors last year, as previously reported by The News Tribune.
“We want folks to know: The best way to stay safe is to eat at permitted vendors,” Via told The News Tribune at the time.
Vendors are required to show permits to anyone who asks, Via said.
Food vendors that pop up at events like festivals will usually have a temporary permit, which will include an inspector’s name and date and will be signed by someone at the Health Department. Food trucks and carts that are permitted annually will have a permit sticker with an expiration date, and they’ll also have a food safety rating sign.
