Health Officials Destroy Street Vendor's Food With Bleach
Health inspectors in Denver, Colorado have sparked controversy after being filmed pouring bleach over a street vendor's taco ingredients during a weekend inspection. The dramatic confrontation occurred on Saturday evening when officials from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment approached a food stand operated by Tacos Tacolorado.
The viral video shows an inspector dousing various plastic containers of food with the toxic substance after the vendor allegedly failed to comply with requests to destroy the potentially unsafe products. According to department spokeswoman, the inspector took this extreme measure after the vendor placed some taco ingredients into the back of a truck instead of disposing of them as instructed.
Pattern of Violations Leads to Extreme Measures
This wasn't the first encounter between health officials and Tacos Tacolorado. Denver authorities revealed that the vendor's staff had received cease-and-desist letters twice in late October, during which more than 65kg of meat was discarded due to safety concerns.
Inspection reports detail multiple violations including lack of handwashing stations, improper sanitisation practices, and temperature control issues with food items. The vendor had previously had food thrown out for breaching safety rules, according to The Denver Post.
Danica Lee, Denver's director of public health investigations, defended the unusual practice, stating: "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."
Official Defence and Alternative Methods
While the use of bleach to destroy food is rare, health officials confirmed it's among their approved methods for preventing consumption of potentially hazardous products. Kitty litter is also used in similar situations to render food inedible.
The video quickly gained traction on social media platforms, drawing mixed reactions from viewers. Some expressed shock at the seemingly wasteful action, while others supported the inspectors' efforts to protect public health.
Food safety experts emphasise that such extreme measures are typically reserved for situations where vendors repeatedly ignore warnings and continue operating despite serious health risks. The Denver case highlights the challenges health departments face in regulating unlicensed food operations while balancing food safety with enforcement methods.
