Are food trucks safe?

By Brittany Lesoon



Mobile kitchens are trending throughout U.S. cites, with legitimate chefs manning the ovens and showcasing creative trucks with jaw-dropping food. Food trucks have been accepted by the mainstream food industry, often with lower prices and faster service than traditional restaurants.

Meals on wheels have been rapidly increasing throughout Central Texas. With this trend gaining such momentum, customers want to know how health regulations for food trucks measure up to a regular restaurant.

 Leah Shelton, 24, works at the Short Bus location on Barton Springs Road in Austin. Shelton explained they wear gloves and change them out regularly, keep counter tops clean, wash all the dishes, use sanitary bottles and spray down everything at the end of the day.

"Trucks are required to follow strict guidelines and they are inspected as often as restaurants," Shelton said.

Shelton offers pointers to let locals and travelers determine if food trucks are sanitary and are taking health precautions.

What to look for when eating at a food truck:  

• A License. By law, food trucks need one to be completely visible so the local health department can track them for random inspections (just like any other restaurant). Why this matters to locals or travelers: Illegal operators tend to not worry as much about temperature and proper storage as an owner who knows an inspector could drop by at any time.

"Not having a food permit is a big no no, they need to be visible," Shelton said. "If you don't have a permit, you will get shut down and have a certain amount of time to get permit up or you get fined."

• Good grades. Food trucks post their latest inspection grade on the window. The worse the grade, the greater chance of getting a food-borne illness.

Shelton was very reassuring that health inspectors do come and good sanitation is a must in order to own a food truck. 

• Gloves. People are more likely to get sick because a truck (or restaurant) employee has bad hygiene. In fact, one of the leading causes of food-borne illness is contamination from someone's filthy hands.

"We wear gloves while handling food and change them regularly," Shelton said. 

Gloves aren't legally required everywhere, but workers seen wearing gloves are a good sign that food safety is taken seriously at that food truck.

Photo by Aubrie Iverson