By Hector Gonzalez
Staff Writer

June 16, 2015 -- Freshly diced fruit may sound cool on a hot afternoon at the beach, but buying it from an unlicensed vendor could get you sick, Santa Monica police are warning.

In response an influx of visitors and food vendors to the city during the warm months, the Santa Monica Police Department and City code-enforcement officials began paying visits last week to food sellers along Santa Monica Beach, said spokesman Sgt. Rudy Camarena.

“Unlicensed vendors and the threat of food-borne illnesses from attendant unsanitary conditions have been a persistent risk during spring and summers at the beach,” Camarena said.

During past inspection efforts, officials have discovered unlicensed food vendors selling easily contaminated foods such as meats, fruits and ice cream, he said. But enforcement sometimes becomes a cat-and-mouse game, Camarena said.

“Some of the vendors work in groups, are very well organized and even have look outs to alert them via phones when code enforcement or police officers are approaching or in the vicinity conducting enforcement,” he said.

Although street food can seem tempting, many unlicensed vendors lack clean water to wash their hands and utensils, and food often is not kept refrigerated or is stored at unsafe temperatures, Camarena said.

It's a serious problem, according to Centers for Disease Control, which estimates that as many as 48 million Americans get sick each year from eating contaminated food. About 128,000 become ill enough to be hospitalized, and an estimated 3,000 people die of food-borne diseases.

For the enforcement sweeps, SMPD officials are pairing a bilingual officer with a code compliance official to patrol the beach area, said Camarena.

So far the operations, which began last Wednesday, have mostly involved issuing vendors warnings and educating them about local ordinances and public health concerns, but officials will get tougher with repeat offenders, said Camarena.

“The code compliance officer retains discretion of whether to issue an administrative citation or to issue a warning,” said Camarena.

“Surrounding circumstances are taken into consideration, including whether previous warnings or citations have been issued to the vendor, the level of sophistication in their operation and their willingness to voluntarily comply with regulations.”

Officials could begin issuing citations to unlicensed vendors that remain out of compliance, as well as confiscate their food and carts, he added.

Santa Monica has a long list of regulations for food vendors, including push carts. Every food vendor must take out a City permit and meet requirements. Vendors can't obstruct streets or sidewalks, and can't sell within 10 feet of any bus stop or within 35 feet of any other vendor, among other rules.

Fines for violating Santa Monica's vending ordinances can be as high as $250 for the first offense, according to the City's website.

“We anticipate that the stepped up enforcement will have an impact in curbing the practice, attaining a level of compliance with health and safety regulations and providing for the welfare of our public,” said Camarena.