To tighten up mobile street food vending sanitation and safety procedures, the Department of Health has proposed a number of tough new regulations. The DOH says its goal is to make the rules simpler and more transparent, so that food vendors are more likely to understand and comply, as well as help the DOH control the illegal renting of mobile food permits. We spoke to both street food vendors and their patrons yesterday to see how they think the modifications will influence NYC street cart culture. Most customers said they weren't worried, while most vendors had yet to hear about the proposed changes.
All food cart operators are required to have a Mobile Food Vending License, but permit holder rights go to the individual who applies for the Mobile Food Vending (MFV) Permit. One of the proposed changes would require permit holders to appear in person during an inspection—currently most food carts are not directly operated by the permit-holder. "The corporate representative from the company named on the permit would have to show in person," the DOH tells us. Some are skeptical of the viability of this solution. "There are too many regulations," one food cart customer told us yesterday. "It stops protecting people really. Address specific issues, not a blanket situation."
Click through the on the photos for more thoughts on the new regulations. Both vendors and consumers can submit comments on the proposed rules by July 19th before the final hearing to discuss the changes.
