LA and food trucks: they go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s hard to imagine La La Land without a Leo’s Taco Truck on every corner, or the famous Korean-Mexican fusion dishes of Kogi BBQ flooding the streets of Palms.
It’s fair to say food truck culture has become a cornerstone of the local scene. While you’re probably thinking of the delicious food, have you ever considered what it takes to ensure your meal isn’t just tasty, but safe too?
A lot of work goes on behind closed doors, from food manufacturers, processors, and suppliers down to the in-truck prep itself. In this article, we’ll look at how your food is kept safe at its various stages of production and the technology that’s used to do it.
Food and Ingredient Production
Whether your favorite food truck buys ingredients from local or national suppliers, it will likely have gone through automated inspection systems from companies like TDI Packsys. Advanced machinery like orientation systems move packaged products (for instance, a bag of nuts or a block of cheese) into the right position to be guided through a production line. There, each individual package will be quality-checked using equipment like X-ray machines and vision inspection systems.
Any products with issues like contamination, loose lids, damaged seals, or under or overfilled packages are removed from the line by rejection and separation equipment. This ensures 100% uniformity so the products will remain fresh, sealed, easy to transport, and most of all, safe.
Health and Safety Practices in a Food Truck
In such a tight space, maintaining top food safety standards in a food truck can be a challenge. There’s limited kitchen space, mobility, and storage, which is why hi-tech solutions like inventory trackers and smart temperature controls can help make things easier. The chefs preparing your food should be fully trained in food safety and understand these important principles:
- Preventing cross-contamination
- Consistent temperature control
- Serving speed
- Handwashing practices
- Food-contact surface sanitation
- Food storage and reuse
Local Requirements
In LA, food trucks are technically known as mobile food facilities, or MFFs by the authorities. In the interest of public health, there are certain rules and regulations that apply to how food is handled, prepared, and served.
Every single approved food truck needs a permit, to pass inspection, and continuously follow the rules. For example, all potentially hazardous foods must be kept at or above 135° F (or below 41° F) and thrown away at the end of the operating day. Always look for a certification sticker with a Letter Grade on the outside of the food truck. Ideally, you should only buy food from trucks with an A rating.
Food Safety in LA’s Food Trucks
The next time you enjoy a delicious helping of soul food or exciting new creations from one of LA’s many and varied food trucks, why not spare a thought for the painstaking production process? A surprising amount has gone into making your meal satiating and safe.
