City Councilwoman Wants Food Carts Inspected Twice A Year

by KYW's Mike Dunn

City Council plans to look at whether Philadelphia food carts are clean, and whether inspectors should look at them more regularly.  

The Health Department currently inspects food carts once a year. City Councilwoman Carol Campbell has introduced a bill that would increase that to twice a year:

“Things don’t always look as clean as they should. They really don’t. I think you have to be concerned about what goes into people’s stomachs.”

Campbell’s bill goes to committee. The Health Department last year was grilled by council about stepping up inspections of restaurants and diners. 

At the same time, the inspectors have new responsibilities, including policing the bans on smoking and trans fats. 

A Department spokesman says currently there are just 30 inspectors for all 13,000 eating establishments in Philadelphia, including the food carts.