Denver cracks down on unlicensed food vendors

Andrea Henderson
·2 min read

DENVER (KDVR) — The city of Denver is dealing with a recent surge in unlicensed vendors outside of concerts and sporting events.

A video from April 29 shows Denver Police Department officers arresting an unlicensed vendor selling hot dogs.

Strong winds cause overhead I-25 interstate sign to fall and hit semi truck

According to police, officers told several unlicensed carts to leave, and everyone complied except for the man in the video. As officers attempted to cite the vendor, he tried to walk away from officers and resisted arrest, police said.

He faces charges of charges of:

  • License required

  • Providing false information

  • Resisting any police authority

“They potentially face enforcement action, and we look at that as a last resort,” said Eric Escudero with Denver Department of Excise and Licenses.

Escudero said their goal is to educate people about the importance of food safety and how to obtain a license.

“If you see these hot dog vendors, these unlicensed ones that are operating illegally, you’ll notice that they don’t have any refrigeration for these hot dogs or this bacon,” Escudero said. “They’re not using gloves, they’re not using sanitary practices such as a hand washing station, and there’s often an unsafe use of propane. Those are big concerns for us.”

Hot dog vendor
Hot dog vendor

Photos provided by the city show a vendor serving food outside Coors Field during the home opener. The photos show hot dogs and bacon unrefrigerated and stored near the ground. The woman serving food is not wearing gloves and does not have a proper hand washing station.

“In Denver, we want to make sure food’s safe, so you go out and you get a hot dog after a game you’re not playing Russian roulette with your digestive system. We want people to be healthy,” Escudero said.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox

To obtain a license, apply online at the city’s website. There’s a one-time $150 application fee and an annual fee of $75 to $100, depending on your setup. The license comes with a required inspection from Denver’s fire and health departments.

Food vendors are required to display their licenses. According to Denver Department of Excise and Licenses, there are currently 101 businesses licensed to operate a food cart in Denver.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.