Beware of Street Vendors in Paris

Honestly, if you’re buying food from street vendors, anywhere, you’re probably taking a certain level of risk

There have always been illegal street sellers without any authorization, mainly around the Eiffel Tower, who store their products in questionable conditions. The police seize the equipment and ingredients, impose fines.
3 days later the same sellers come back with new equipment. It's been going on for years, it already existed in the 80s when I lived in Paris

Just like with bed bugs, if there were not the Olympic Games in Paris no one would publish a press article or a video about it.

Ewww. I've eaten (delicious) banana-Nutella crèpes from a cart near the Eiffel Tower. Glad I didn't know this until much later.

Yeah, it's definitely the case for anyone selling bottles of water out of a bucket or something. And not at all restricted to near the Eiffel Tower.

I read about this in October so this story has staying power. Things like this is why I do not eat from street vendors anywhere.

I'm going to skip the article and continue to roll in blissfull ignorance.

Oh bleeech.... Interesting video.

When I was there in the spring there was a permanent-ish "international"-type food court set up across the street from the ET just before going across the bridge to the Trocadero area. They did have power and refrigeration and were obviously licensed as the people cooking on top of shopping carts are not.

What a gross and disgusting practice! It's good that the authorities are aware of it and will be taking action. I very rarely buy food from street vendors as i prefer to sit down at a proper restaurant (hopefully those have higher standards).

Too funny. It's street food. It isn't usually prepared in a restaurant.
The vendors do not have all of the amenities. By design they are resourceful and sometimes that means a bit off of center. When you buy street food, you should have that in the back of your mind.
In some parts of the world, it is a good idea to stay away from street food for the simple reason that most of us do not come equipped with the intestinal fortitude to overcome the possible health consequences.
And yet, street is by far one of the most entertaining and exciting ways to graze.
Think about those tacos in Mexico, or the dosa in India, the raw octopus in Korea or the grilled ray or oyster cakes in Singapore. I've been eating wurst and kabobs in Berlin since the early 60's. How about the night market in Taipei or Kaohsiung? Street food is the bomb. From time to time your stomach will pay the price. You suffer a few days and move on with a stronger gut.
And, it can also happen in restaurants. It's happened to me in Germany, China, Mexico...Sometimes you know almost immediately.
Always pack the cork...

And the napkins are full of bed bugs.

"And yet, street is by far one of the most entertaining and exciting ways to graze."

For sure.

In Hong Kong, we ate street food regularly. The crèpe in Paris. Heavenly! (Mind you, this came from one of those food truck things that are often used in North America, too.) Eating fried shrimp from a food truck on Oahu's North Shore, while chickens ran around our feet was fun. The experience of eating seafood at a table in the middle of a crowded street in Puerto Ayora in the Galapagos was amazing! The tamales our guide bought us from a roadside shack in the Yucatan were fabulous! And I've already told my travel clinic doctor that we WILL be eating street food in Vietnam, as that country is well-known for its delicious street food.

As long as one is a bit cautious about the conditions in which street foods are stored, prepared, and served, it can be relatively safe and perfectly delightful. Is the place recommended by a trusted local and/or is it well-known? Is hot food served hot and cold food served cold? Does the place have some sort of access to power and/or flame? Is it busy, with a quick turnover of food (i.e. food not sitting for long periods of time between customers)? Are different people handling the money and handling the food, or is the person washing hands or removing gloves in between? Is it in a place where the water is safe to drink? (If not, don't have salad or unpeeled fruit on the street, or any cold food that has been stored, unwrapped, in ice.)

To me, street food can be part of the travel experience I'm there for.

While we were in China, I was working during the day and my husband roaming around on the metro while I worked eating street food -- he was fine. Our only experience of food poisoning in 60+ years of international travel was from a salad composee at a normal cafe in a non-touristy area of Paris. We believe it was the shrimp -- luckily I who generally love shrimp didn't order the salad that contained it. It hit my husband hard a few hours later and he barely made it back to the apartment.

As anyone who has worked in restaurants knows, there is a lot of poor food handling and appalling hygiene in those preparing food and many places are reluctant to discard ingredients that are past their use by dates. Everyone who eats in restaurants should have Hep A vaccination and then hope for the best.

Everyone who eats in restaurants should have Hep A vaccination and then hope for the best.

Years ago a popular restaurant in Calgary had to throw in the towel and close because of a Hep A outbreak in the kitchen that spread to the customers.

Partly because Rick (our host) has always had a charitable interest in supporting less developed countries (not meaning France ... ), I'll make a comment about recent "immigrants" to New York City. Many (by my observation, particularly female ... ) unskilled workers have chosen to sell food like fresh fruit cups, and bags of (cold) churros in the subway system. Setting aside the issues of use of public space, crowding, and safety at rush hour, they don't have vending permits, food hygiene certificates, or hand-washing, let alone refrigeration. I've seen them (wearing surgical gloves!) de-hulling strawberries and cutting up fruit right there in the subway passages. People who complain about this are branded as cruel capitalists, who prevent lower-income residents from getting affordable food on the go.

Part of the problem is the city's failed vending permit system, where wealthier, older immigrants have accumulated permits that they rent out at exorbitant rates to people who can afford them. But the hot issue is the demonstrated desire/need of immigrants to work hard, succeed, and build lives in the USA. A related issue is whether food deliverers should have safer Lithium-Ion batteries bought for them by charities or the city-so they can ride on sidewalks and run through red lights ...

BTW, I have been buying unrefrigerated, pre-made french-bread sandwiches (from glass display cases, usually in the sun) for a walking-lunch in Paris and elsewhere for decades. I'd rather not, but I do.

Back to France. All those crêpes from stands are made from factory-made batter that's transported in giant white plastic buckets. It's not exactly fine cuisine but a tummy filler if you're hungry.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. I once read an article in a reputable magazine (Marie Claire?) which reported that the rats in Paris manholes are clean, well mannered, and wear bowties when they are out and about.

And the giant white plastic buckets are thoroughly sanitized before being filled with the biscuit-coloured plasticine

Hair nets? We don't need no stinking hair nets!.

Paris police chief Laurent Nuñe spoke about putting an end to street vending before the 2024 Olympic Games. "We will, of course, have completely eradicated the phenomenon of street vending, fortune-telling and other delinquent activities,"

That statement alone took the article from schlock scary things are happening clickbait to high comedy.

Fortune telling is delinquent? I predict that won't go over well.

Good to know.
In 2012, at the Champs du Mars on Bastille Day, I saw vendors putting bottles of water or wine in electrical grids there.

I don't buy food from street vendors --- and probably never will!

BG1, would you consider booths at the Christmas markets to be street vendors?