12/18/2025
As many people have become aware, there is a taco tent operating illegally in Colorado. You may have seen the multiple social media posts and even the widely-shared video of the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) pouring bleach into the food containers at one of their locations. DDPHE has an official statement on their website.
This company is not licensed. Operating any mobile food unit without a license is illegal. Licensing is required in order to protect the health and safety of the public. Additionally, operating under a tent, other than being licensed as part of a temporary event such as a fair or celebration, is also illegal. All retail food businesses are required to keep their food license visible to the public: if the license is not visible, the public has the right to ask to see the license. Public health cares about the safety of our communities and properly licensed vendors have gone through procedures and inspections to ensure that they are following safe food handling practices and will not make the community sick. We appreciate the mobile units who provide our communities with great food and maintain high standards. Supporting an unlicensed, and unsafe, operation undermines the hard work and investment that our local businesses make to operate safely and legally.
Tacolorado has several set-ups and have been moving across the state, generally setting up at night and on weekends. They have been offered multiple opportunities, from multiple public health departments, to bring their operation into compliance and receive proper licensing – they have repeatedly ignored those requests and continue to operate illegally and unsafely.
Northeast Colorado Health Department also wants to hear from you if you have become sick after eating food from one of these “red tent” vendors. Please call us at 877-795-0646 to make a report.
