What is a Roach Coach? Are they in possesion of a buisiness license?

Question

who controls these burrito wagons and whats in their food? After many people , including hispanics, became ill after buying food off these free lance taco wagons our city shut them out. They would just back in to bars and motels (tacky as hell) and plug in. They mainly targeted illegals and others working on job sites. They were everywhere! Chromed out chow wagons! I know some of these were serving some good stuff but like a retsraunt there has to be inspections for our protection, but they stay on the move.

Answer 1

As a former restarant manager, I can tell you that in many states, it is illegal to have a business such as that without a permit and to get a permit, there are strict regulations.

The problem is that any food in the danger zone(around 40-140 degrees F) is dangerous when left at that temp for long periods of time. Many of those wagons are bacteria breeding grounds on wheels, especially in hot humid climates.

Most of these "roach coaches" aren't even designed to keep foods at the proper temperature and that's dangerous. When you consider most states would close down a food establishment who consistently kept food at 42 degrees F and these places keep their food near room temperature, I don't see how they keep from being closed..

Answer 2

Know what you mean. I have eaten at those roach coaches and never did get ill. My favorite was a steak burrito, boy was that good. I did not get the feeling it was dirty or anything, but yes, they do make big business at industrial parks and outside bars, etc. I am not sure they go thru the inspection that restaurants do, though so people do take risks buying food from these r-coaches.

Answer 3

Those *Roach Coaches* should be inspected before they are allowed to sell any food at all. I don't know if it is a law in your state but here in New Mexico, they can't even sell anything unless they are inspected first and have a license. Uh, there was one incident here were the guy that was selling food from a hot dog stand in front of the jail was cited and put in jail cause they found out he was selling drugs from his stand!!!! In front of the jail!!!!!
Sadly enough- he was American.

Answer 4

They're big in Philadelphia, too up near the college campuses. Not sure how well they are regulated but in Philadelphia they are pretty much fixtures so that if there are problems, you could find them pretty easily.

I also see the at every construction site in the Bay Area- again, not sure how they are managed, but someone must be monitoring them- there are not many scandals around people getting sick because of them (any more than the many questionable restaurants out there).

Answer 5

The term "roach coach" is a military term and refers to the fact that food crumbs attract roaches in barracks etc, Now they have the name and they live up to it.

Answer 6

They are a 4 wheeled vending machine, I would suppose the same people that control the food in vending machines would be responsible for inspection and licence for them.

Answer 7

When I was in the Navy they had them all over the Navy base but it was run by the Navy Exchange and they made sure it wasn't to nasty, they had good breakfast sandwiches!

Answer 8

You brought up something I have not thought about...but I don't buy food from carts or wagons....

Answer 9

I wouldn't buy from one of them. Then, I s'pose when the illegals got sick from eating them, they hauled their butts on down to the local ER for free medical treatment.

Answer 10

i know a girl who got food poison from one of these she ordered a tamale i told her not to do it boy was she sorry