The Nation - News from Oct. 6, 1989

Tank trucks alternated loads of chemicals with shipments of juices, wine and edible oils, truckers told a House panel as it continued a probe into food-hauling practices. Two months ago, the same Public Works and Transportation investigations subcommittee was told by several truckers that they sometimes carried garbage in the same refrigerated trucks used to haul food. The recent testimony concerned a related practice: the hauling of chemicals and liquid foods back to back. Trucker David Helzer of Hermiston, Ore., said the practice appeared widespread. “On June 9, 1988, I loaded ammonium phosphate, washed out, and reloaded apple juice. I then loaded monethanolamine 100%, washed out, and reloaded apple juice,” Helzer said.