Flap over food was unnecessary

Re: "Black leaders want an apology" (OA, June 24).

The Ector County Health Department owes the Juneteenth celebrants an apology - and if it's not forthcoming in a timely manner, the official who abused his/her authority should be replaced.

That official had to know that such action would disrupt an otherwise peaceful and joyful celebration with the potential of erupting into a serious situation - serious enough to deny future Juneteenth celebrations to take place at the park. It makes me wonder if that was the intention!

Luckily, one of the organizers recognized this potential and called on the police to arbitrate the problem. But it still took the health inspectors another 30 minutes to reluctantly allow the participants to eat the prepared food.

According to the article, " ... the county's top health official, Gino Solla, who said according to state law, any food service operation, whether it's located in a permanent establishment of not, is not allowed to have food prepared in a private home for public consumption."
He said that's because, in the unfortunate case of food-born illness outbreak, the health department has to be able to track down where the food came from, and health inspectors don't have the authority to look over someone's private kitchen.

This interpretation would make it against the law for catered meals and/or meals prepared in private kitchens to be served in churches, homes or even community buildings located the parks, for weddings, funerals, anniversaries and birthday parties. It could even make pot-luck meals at churches illegal.  

The truth is this law says nothing about ‘private kitchens.'  It requires "food establishments" to serve food which is prepared "on site" where it is sold or consumed.

I do think reasonably intelligent people would define a "food establishment" as a "for-profit business that prepares and serves food to the general public on a regular basis."

I can't remember one instance where food served at any park in Odessa resulted in an "food-born illness," but I can think of several "food establishments" where this occurred although the health department does have the authority to look over their kitchens.

Back when I worked, the lunch wagon showed up every day around noon and not one morsel on that wagon was cooked on site where it was sold.

I would like to put Solla's concerns to rest. If a food-born illness outbreak should occur, the health department would know about it in a timely manner and have no difficulty tracking the source of where the food came from.

Given that the Juneteeth preparation committee contracted with only one person, that source would be readily available.

Joan Deutsch
Odessa