Paris street vendors sell food stored in sewers to tourists, report says
- Vendors selling crepes and sandwiches were caught storing ingredients in manholes near the Eiffel Tower
- The deputy mayor of Paris warned tourists of the ‘dangerousness’ of the products on sale as the city’s police chief vowed to end street vending before the 2024 Olympics
Street vendors in Paris have been caught storing food in the city’s sewers, local newspaper Le Parisien reported in October.
These vendors, who sell crepes and sandwiches, were found storing ingredients in manholes along the Champ-de-Mars near the Eiffel Tower, per the report.
“Many use frozen dough that has been stored in questionable conditions. To mask the smell and rancid taste, they sprinkle it with vanilla sugar,” one vendor told Le Parisien in French. The vendor was not identified in the report.
A video posted by Le Parisien showed several clips of people removing bags containing food from sewer access points and electricity grates. One clip showed a man placing a bucket underground and walking to a food cart. Business Insider could not independently verify the authenticity of the clips.
Crepe batter and other types of food, including meat and beverages, were also found stored in manholes, hatches, and vents, Le Parisien reported, citing a resident who lives in the 7th district – an affluent neighbourhood and home to the Eiffel Tower. The food is then reheated and put up for sale, per the report, citing another local resident.
Frank Delvau, president of the Union of Hospitality Trades and Industries of Paris and the Ile-de-France, said the sellers represent a public health risk, noting they have no way to wash their hands, per Le Parisien. Some were seen selling “tainted merchandise, water bottles filled up at the tap,” Delvau said.
