San Francisco cracks down on unlicensed mobile food vendors during Super Bowl 50

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Food vendors are a common sight in San Francisco, but the city is promising a super crackdown during Super Bowl festivities on unlicensed mobile vendors. Some people who were hoping to get licenses are being told it's too late.

Some potential vendors didn't realize it was too late to get a permit for the big game, but discovered this at a meeting Wednesday hosted by San Francisco's Public Health Department.

At the Street Food Park South of Market in San Francisco, there's something in the air, the smell not just of pizza or vegan fries; it's the smell of money as the Super Bowl approaches.

Odang Udon Noodles is one of 300 food trucks and more than 50 food carts that are licensed by the city and in line to take advantage of the huge Super Bowl crowds.

Lawson Terrel hoped to have a mobile oyster bar, so he showed up at an informational meeting hosted by the Public Health Department, only to be told it's too late. The permit process takes 1 to 2 months.

"I was planning to make quite a bit of money down by the pier that day," Terrel said.

"The information is available on our website and if you knew the Super Bowl was around the corner, maybe you should have looked at it a little bit earlier," Nancy Sarieh of the San Francisco

Health officials say their emphasis right now is on cracking down and even shutting down the expected Super Bowl influx of illegal vendors who could trigger an outbreak of foodborne illnesses.

"Basic things like hand washing is not available. They aren't able to protect the food from contamination," said Sandra Ramos of the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Vendors who are approved will have red decals. Emiliana Puiana is helping immigrant women get their permits.

"We were not hoping to do something in time for the Super Bowl. We were just hoping to get a clear understanding about all the regulations," said Emiliana Puiana or La Cocina.

There will be another meeting like that on January 21.

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