"You Won't Be Able to Sell Anymore"—Street Food Crackdown Sparks Outrage as Inspectors Douse Ingredients with Bleach

[Financial News] Inspectors from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have sparked controversy after being seen pouring bleach over street vendor ingredients during a crackdown on unsanitary street food.
On the 20th (local time), multiple foreign media outlets including the New York Post and Metro International reported that last weekend, food safety inspectors from the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) in Colorado took such action while cracking down on a street vendor selling tacos.
At the time, the street vendor attempted to load ingredients onto a truck after inspectors demanded the disposal of food on display. In response, one inspector poured bleach over the remaining food. Regarding the incident, the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) explained that the vendor had been operating without a permit and repeatedly ignored public health violation warnings, necessitating such 'extreme' measures.
However, as footage of the scene spread online, criticism mounted over what many called excessive enforcement. Some argued the response was overly emotional, while others questioned whether pouring bleach actually made the food any safer.
In an official statement addressing the controversy, DDPHE said, "Given the vendor's interference, the lack of on-site disposal facilities, and the amount of contaminated food, bleach was used as a prompt and immediate response to prevent repackaging, storage, and sale of the food." All food doused with bleach was reportedly discarded.
The department further emphasized that the use of additives such as bleach during crackdowns is a standard public health practice to prevent disease and protect consumers, and is only implemented after multiple attempts at education and voluntary compliance.
[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter