The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is making a mockery of the Food and Beverage Industry. Why is it that a hotdog can be served in the open air? The plan review department of the DBPR strictly forbids the preparation of foods in the open air. I understand their intent contained in the verbiage but I don't see how it protects the general public from airborne germs or cross contamination. The restrictions imposed on food truck with respect to windows and screens are simply ridiculous. Anyone that has ever been to food truck rally knows that the windows are constantly open, including the back doors and side doors. Let’s face it we live in South Florida……..IT”S HOT HERE!
But it is perfectly legal and DBPR sanctioned for a hot dog cart, in the open air to remove a hotdog from boiling water, place it in a bun add your condiments and Voilà there you have it! But if you want to make anything else (with the of exception Bbq smokers, yes they are exempt too! But with equally stupid regulations) it must be made inside a truck or trailer that is entirely enclosed. I don’t know about you but I have been to many a Publix Deli and seen hoards of flies flying around and I lived to tell about it.
How many hamburgers, sliders, steaks, tacos, or pizzas have you grilled outside in the open air? Will we soon be required to build a food truck for our own personal use? Please don’t mistake my purpose of this blog, I love street hotdogs and have eaten as many as the Burger Beast has had burgers. My argument is why must a brick wood fired oven be enclosed in a truck? These ovens generate over 1000º degrees, inside a truck….Really? I think not. The pizza making process is in reverse order from a hotdog cart. The pizza dough is formed, sauced, requested toppings are added and then it is baked in the oven at almost the same temperature that bodies are cremated at. In other words the final product is sterilized!
The real issue is that the Food & Beverage Commission is armed with high profile lobbyists that make rules & regulations that are biased on the side of Land based brick and mortar establishments. And aim to level the playing field!
Stay Hungry My Friends
Hot Dog Cart vs Trucks. On the subject I found this reference from Jacksonville, Bus'In your chops, News Food Trucks from 2010
ReplyDelete" 'Frederick "Live Simply" W. says:
The rules for food trucks vary by city, state, and food truck vendor. Some cities, particularly in Southern California, take a wonderfully laissez-faire attitude, which has led to a vibrant food truck culture. Other cities go to extreme lengths to regulate and limit food trucks, mostly at the behest of traditional restaurants who lobby aggressively to pass discriminatory licensing, zoning, and inspection laws. At the moment, there is a bill in front of the Jacksonville City Council (Bill 2010-856) sponsored by generous bribes from the business community and colloquially referred to as the "Hot Dog Cart Law" which would put strict limits on these 'transient businesses'.
Of course, the hardworking politicians never reveal that their motivation for these laws is the money they've received from the business owners. They are very careful to cloak their bills with terms referring to 'protecting the public' and 'food safety', or traffic or any other excuse. Ignoring the fact that other cities around the world have thriving food truck cultures without people dropping dead on the street.'"
Are you saying that food trucks are not allowed in South Florida/Tampa at this time? It sounds like you've done a lot of research on this. Would love to hear more.
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