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After food truck dumps waste in a parking lot, Salt Lake County Health Department shuts it down

A food truck based in West Valley City was shut down last week, after health inspectors learned the owners had dumped waste from the vehicle into a parking lot.

It’s just one of nine critical health violations discovered at Tacos Estilo DF, 2128 W. 2300 South, according to a May 16 notice on the Salt Lake County Health Department website.

In addition to the improper dumping, inspectors says the food truck owners were “using a private residence to cook and cool potentially hazardous foods." Under Salt Lake County health code, mobile food vendors must prepare food in an approved commercial kitchen or commissary.

The truck’s refrigeration system also was unable to keep food at or below 41 degrees, a situation that can promote bacteria growth. Inspectors noted that cooked beef, rice and tripe stored in the fridge were being held at too high a temperature.

Inspectors also found “raw meat stored above ready-to-eat foods in the reach-in cooler."

Food truck employees also were unable to demonstrate adequate knowledge of proper hot and cold holding temperatures, as salsas were being held at too high a temperature — 74 degrees — on a preparations table.

Tacos Estilo will remain closed until the owners can fix the problems and inspectors deem it safe for the public.

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