Unanimous approval was given yesterday to a motion that County Supervisors say will strengthen the regulation of Mobile Food Facilities, while at the same time, educate the public and encourage mobile vendors to offer healthy alternatives to consumers throughout the County. “Expanding letter grades to mobile food trucks is an important step toward the protection of the health of the public,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
“But I am particularly pleased that the Board of Supervisors unanimously endorsed my motion to institute a consumer education program. They will explore ways to ensure that mobile food vendors offer healthy food alternatives, particularly in those areas that have high incidents of diabetes and obesity.”
“Healthy choices are important because stores and vendors in many neighborhoods of our County do not offer an adequate number of healthy choices to consumers, and mobile food vendors are potentially the most viable providers of healthy food choices to consumers who live in such areas,” added Ridley-Thomas.
Supervisors said the ordinance will empower consumers to make informed food choices based on safe food handling practices and facility sanitation. Phase I of the program will begin 30 days after adoption of the ordinance and will include inspection of approximately 3,200 full service catering trucks.
Phase II is scheduled to begin on July 1, and will include the estimated 2,800 remaining food service carts.
Mr. Maddox may be contacted at emaddox@bos.lacounty.gov
