Where Boerne Eats: A Closer Look

Column brings health inspection scores, results; Today, Losoya Express food truck

JOEL MORRIS

Star Intern

EDITOR’S NOTE: Star intern Joel Morris meets every week with Kendall County Health Inspector Brenda Bell and her staff, to bring us our newest feature, “Where Boerne Eats: A Closer Look.”

BOERNE — Health Departments routinely inspect restaurants and food trucks to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses. Each week, the Boerne Star will bring you the results of an inspection by Bell and crew.

Today, it’s the Losoya Express food truck service, out of San Antonio.

Losoya Express passed its routine health inspection but is still awaiting full fire safety approval due to several code violations identified during a recent visit by the Kendall County fire marshal.

Items the firm needs to address are:

• Egress pathway not in fire code.

• Fire extinguisher not in fire code regulations. Needs to be mounted and secured between 4-60 inches.

• Failed to have cleaning companies tags for proof of licensed company.

• Label on gas tank not presented.

The egress pathway did not meet fire code, which requires a minimum width of 30 inches. Deputy Fire Marshal Juan Cordona noted the current exit width was only 22 inches, narrowed by a refrigerator that extended into the passageway.

Jorge Almaguer, owner of Losoya Express, asked if he could use the other side of the food truck as an emergency exit, but Cordona expressed concern that a step-down in that area might present a safety risk.

The fire extinguisher, while present, was not compliant with code. It was found standing on the floor rather than being properly mounted and secured.

Cordona said extinguishers must be at a height between 4 and 60 inches off the ground, according to fire regulations.

Inside the food truck, the environment is clean and orderly. However, the absence of cleaning company tags was mentioned by Cordona and Health Inspector Brenda Bell. These tags are required to verify sanitation was handled by a licensed and certified cleaning service.

Additionally, while not a major violation, the propane gas tank lacked a label identifying its contents and specifications — an important detail for safety and regulatory purposes.

Almaguer, owner of three food trailers, is familiar with health and fire regulations; but with this being his first mobile food truck, some standards are somewhat different. Almaguer is involved with ownership and management of Losoya’s Taqueria, at 13444 West Ave. in San Antonio.

“This is my first mobile food truck; I have food trailers,” said Almaguer. “It’s a little bit more space inside. This is my first time with mobile food truck, so inside it’ll be a little smaller.”

Losoya Express is expected to address the violations and schedule a follow-up inspection to obtain full fire safety clearance.