Multiple illnesses tied to unpermitted street vendors, Maricopa County officials say

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Maricopa County officials say more than a dozen recent illness reports are connected to unpermitted street food vendors.

Over the past several weeks, the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (MCESD) has received reports of 17 people suffering from diarrhea and vomiting after eating food from a specific group of unpermitted street vendors.

County officials contacted the vendors in question regarding the allegations and found food code violations during inspections. The agency is now planning additional action.

“Due to the operators’ lack of cooperation in addressing and resolving this matter, the department has initiated legal action to address the unpermitted food stands,” MCESD said in an emailed news release.

While the agency stopped short of naming the vendors, county officials say they’re typically set up near sidewalks and in parking lots selling “tacos al pastor.”

The meat is on a vertical rotisserie called a “trompo” or spinning top and shaved directly into a taco. MCESD says trompos set up outdoors with temporary equipment such as a tent/canopy and folding tables are likely unpermitted and could cause illness.

“It is important to note that the businesses implicated in these illness reports should not be confused with the vast majority of street food vendors, including taco stands, that employ safe food practices,” MCESD said.

County officials urge residents to buy only from vendors with permits issued by MCESD, which requires them to follow safety practices such as maintaining proper food temperatures and obtaining food from approved sources to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Arizona’s Family has contacted the county for additional information on the specific street vendors.

MCESD included images below to provide examples of unapproved setups, food violations, and a proper permit.

Arizona’s Family looked closer at the county’s investigation into these vendors.

The county showed pictures of these vendors mixing raw meat with cooked meat, no hand-washing stations on site, and meat ready to be cooked and served in garbage bags in a trailer. Those violations only scratch the surface. “We suspect there are anywhere from 20 to 30 of these vendors that set up all over the valley every single day,” said Andy Linton, interim director with the county Environmental Services Department.

They are working to crack down on these vendors, but it isn’t easy. “They are mobile vendors, and so when we see them on one corner and then the next day they are on another corner,” said Linton. In pictures from the investigation, meat is seen in a garbage bag next to fruit and drinks near a gas tank.

“The assumption is that well, we are going to cook it so it will cook off the germs, but that’s not always the case. You can get some heat-resistant organisms on meat,” said Linton. The county is warning people about eating at these unpermitted vendors.

They are urging people to look for the proper permits, which should be posted in an easy-to-see place.

If not, you can always ask to see a vendor’s permit. The county said eating at a place with a permit will reduce your risk of getting a foodborne illness.

“When we issue a permit we are going to verify that they have the proper equipment.”

Anyone concerned about a food establishment or street vendor, including reporting an illness, is asked to contact MCESD at (602) 506-6616 or visit Maricopa.gov/Enviro.

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