Check out some of the recent City of Austin restaurant inspections.. Notable scores include Las Lomas on Stassney with a 50 (FAIL), Taqueria Jefes on Lamar with a 70, Torchy’s on Guadalupe with a 93, and the Maudie’s at the airport with a 96..hit the jump for a list of all the scores..

[original source - City of Austin]

Dubbed the TOXIC TRIANGLE, its the 20,000 home subdivision in the southwest part of San Antonio, TX [map] – built atop a former Air Force base. Years of chemical spills, careless dumping and undocumented disposal of mystery barrels have left the area’s water supply contaminated with a dealy plume of cancer-causing chemicals, including Trichloroethylene (TCE)- which has been linked to serious health effects including liver, kidney and breast cancer. Literally hundreds of Toxic Triangle residents have died of cancer over the past 10 years.

While the Air Force authorities have assumed the burden of cleaning up the mess, they still view the cancer studies as inconclusive, and “to bitter, impatient residents, the Air Force’s reluctance to take direct blame for the incidence of disease in the area is demonstrated by what they consider to be an outrageously slow, half-hearted cleanup effort.” SA Current – Full Article here

“WTF does this have to do with Tacos?” you ask??

Well, now the Air Force is pulling what i can only decribe as Taco Town’s Conspiracy Mashup of The Year- combining overt racism with pass-the-buck right wing science (ala global warming denial) Brilliant!

The Airforce is funding (at least partially) a study into the theory that this cancer plague is actually caused by corn tortillas! Here’s their only evidence:

Donnelly says a study in Africa found that a toxic mold sometimes found naturally in corn and grains is believed to be a contributing factor to liver cancer cases among some local residents there, but those people also suffered from hepatitis, or had other liver problems.
“There was a study that was specifically done in South Texas that showed that there are certain corn products that do have relatively high levels of these chemicals in them,” explained Dr. Donnelly, “So, yes, we are suspicious of corn products.” …Full Article Here

What genius came up with this one? Could it be an Aggie scientist (irony in itself)? YES!…I can see it now: “Well, ders lots o’ mexicans over there in San Antonio…bet they eat lots o’ tacos n corn n shit…maybe we can blame it on the tacos?”

You know what else causes cancer? EVERYTHING! cigarettes, red meat, sweet n low, diet coke, computers, microwaves, cell phones…etc…oh and also massive amounts of TCE!!!

But surely this has nothing to do with a Giant PLUME of toxic waste in those mexicans’ drinking water!…Nahhh…its the tortillas…and genetics…

FUCK THAT!!!
- Cabeza.

after the break: links to more info about this mess

further reading:
Graphic: Map of Kelly AFB contaminated Plume
Graphic: TCE’s effects on the body
Video: WOAI ‘s Story
WOAI’s Story: Corn Tortilla’s Causing Cancer?
SA Current Story: Frustrations persist for ‘toxic triangle’
Article: Death Among Residents in Latino Community

ATSDR’s 1999 Public Health Assessment
Related info: TCE Blog

In 2007, 11 Austin area restaurants scored 50 or less on their health inspection scores… thats a serious score..it means a temporary revocation of their license.. here’s the list of the guilty restaurants… notable mexi-joints include la merced, la terraza, and ninfa’s, which happens to be the chain of restaurant that introduced me to cheese enchiladas, rice and beans at a very young age, thus shaping me into the man whose words you’re reading today… ninfas in austin is the bastard stepchild of a houston dynasty.. and its time for it to be cut off from mom and dad.. its all about pride..but at least they make their own tortillas.
tacotown does not support these restaurants:

• china buffet
• madras pavillion
• wanfu
• sao paulo’s
• jack in the box on airport (indoor raw sewage leak)
• musashino! (cockroaches,dirty fingernails)
• china harbor
• la merced
• la terraza
• new oriental market on airport
• ninfa’s

check the video report here