Bear Found in Down-town, Seal Surfs Sofa, Vancouver, BC: Expanded Street Food Program Celebrates One Year

Have you seen any of the marketing and news touting the "NEW AND EXPANDED"street food program in Vancouver? If so, I hope that you noticed a few things.

1. The food is all served: in plastic containers, or wrapped in paper. The paper, plastic and any uneaten portions will all end up on city streets; not only greatly increasing the amount of garbage; but also aiding the spread of disease, and attracting bears, rats, seals-- all types of vermin.
2. The rotting food becomes a source of disease. 
3. Vancouver wants to become more like France, Italy, London, and other European tourist destinations that have long been attempting to combat the very problems that boulevard cafés, street vendors, and all out door markets create.
4. As traditional fast-food outlets have proven time and time again; street vendors are not going to be concerned about STREET SANITATION. They seem to believe that is the city's job. The city officials, in turn; are cutting back on garbage pick-ups, health care; and most everything else-- except taxes, and their own wages, pensions, and expense accounts.
5. The vendors, shown in many of these promotions, were all wearing normal street dress. They were not wearing cooks uniforms and some wore, very dirty appearing, base-ball caps. If they were wearing uniforms, they are still on the street, where there is no place to change clothing; the uniform can not possibly be clean. If they were clean when put on, with travel,  environmental, and street conditions; they would not be when working on the job.
6. Many of the vendors had long, uncovered, uncontrolled  hair (no hair nets). In most cases, the hair was down well past the collar.
7. None were wearing gloves or in any way covering their hands.
8. Thongs, plastic or waxed-paper sheets were not used to grasp food items.
9. When ever serving spoons or ladles had to be used, (sauces etch), they were usually used for more than one food item.
10. Cutting boards and knives were often--USUALLY-- used for numerous different foods without ever being washed, often without even being wiped clean. 
11. Food was most often touched and otherwise handled with the bare hands.
12.  Servers were also accepting money or payment.
13. It is impossible any where on the streets to know you might be picking up on your hands.
14. Owners and/or servers in the larger food trucks freely moved from one area to another (some even opening awnings, doors and windows) and from one food item to another; without washing or even wiping their hands. Most of the carts but trucks also; were not equipped with sinks or running water.
15. Most of the food is not prepared fresh. there is no way of judging how old it actually is.
16. Most of the serving counters (steam tables) are not equipped with shields and servers are not wearing masks. 
17. Exhibitions, food fairs, rodeos, sporting events, etch often bring with them an increase in "stomach flu" and gastric and intestinal problems.  
18. Food carts and outdoor dining patios often create congestion; preventing other pedestrians--especially those using scooters, walkers, or wheelchairs, from being able to get by. As a part of their marketing strategy, the food trucks and carts are often located at an intersection/ cross-walk, or Sky-train station; were there is already a greater concentration of people.
19. Many long existing, small traditional restaurants; are going out of business.
20. Much of the food that I have seen being served along Commercial Avenue, at parades, and other events was done so under very unsanitary conditions and either burned, cold, or very poorly prepared.
21. Any area of the food industry is very competitive. By very definition, cleaning,maintenance, and sanitation costs are very high. For a street vendor even more so than in a traditional operation. Anyone involved in the industry feels the need to cut costs and the easiest--not the best-- area in which to do so is in the fore mentioned; cleaning, maintenance and sanitation.
22. Most of the foods served definitely do not fit into Canada's healthy eating guidelines.
23. Prices were often outlandish. More inflation.
24. I had enough, with the catering truck that travelled to various job-sites and will never, ever, make a purchase from a cart or food truck such as these again; but, that is my choice, and my decision--you are perfectly free to make your own.

READ AND SEE MORE:http://www.bivinteractive.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4034:vancouver-expands-food-cart-program&catid=14:daily-news&Itemid=46

http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2011/07/vancouver-bc-expanded-street-food-program-celebrates-one-year/