Denver Officials Say Bleach Dumped on Unlicensed Taco Vendor’s Food Was “Necessary”
Story originally reported by FOX31
A viral video showing a Denver Department of Public Health and Environment employee pouring bleach on a street vendor’s food sparked outrage across social media this week. But according to city officials, the action was not only intentional — it was necessary.
The vendor, known as “Tacolorado,” had been under investigation for several weeks due to what the city called “serious public health concerns.” DDPHE spokesperson Amber Campbell said the business had been operating without a license and repeatedly ignoring essential food safety requirements.
“Our Public Health Investigations team has engaged with this vendor multiple times across different locations in Denver, offering education, bilingual resources, and guidance to help them come into compliance,” Campbell said. “Despite these efforts, the vendor has continued to operate illegally and unsafely.”
Officials said investigators witnessed several unsafe practices, including improper food storage, no reliable method to keep meat at safe temperatures, and unsafe propane use.
The situation escalated on Saturday at 2110 S. Colorado Blvd., where the now-viral video was filmed. Campbell said the vendor allegedly moved roughly 100 pounds of pork and several pounds of chorizo into a locked box truck and refused to give investigators access to properly dispose of the food. That decision, she said, forced inspectors to pour bleach on the remaining food to prevent it from being served to the public.
A timeline from the city shows repeated violations:
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Oct. 28: First encounter near Evans & Colorado. Officials discarded about 120 pounds of meat and issued a cease-and-desist order.
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Oct. 31: Second encounter at 10th & Sheridan, where another 25 pounds of food were discarded along with a second cease-and-desist.
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Nov. 5: An administrative citation was mailed and later delivered in person.
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Nov. 16: During the third cease-and-desist encounter, the bleach incident occurred.
Campbell said the city recognizes the challenges many street vendors face and remains committed to outreach and education to help them get licensed and operate legally.
Officials say a second administrative citation was mailed Monday, with a third already underway.
