Food Poisoning

• No one plans to save up for a holiday to some exotic location only to be bed-ridden for several days due to food poisoning. As street vendors are not subject to inspections, there is the possibility of catching viruses, such as E. coli and salmonella, from dirty utensils and generally unsanitary conditions. This is especially true of fish in coastal areas where the fish may not have been refrigerated properly. Remember these vendors do not have running water or fridges.
  
  

Unusual Fare

• In the western world, we have become rather picky about the meats we will eat. In other parts of the world, it isn't necessarily so. For example in China and Taiwan, dog is still commonly eaten, while in France horse meat is still regularly cooked. Street vendors tend to specialize in very indigenous food, and if you are not up on the language, you can end up eating something you would rather have not.
  
  

Lack of Accountability

• If you get food poisoning from a restaurant in the United States, you can claim compensation from the restaurant, as they are held accountable by law. When abroad, this may not apply, and you will be left ill with no hope of being compensated by the vendor.
  
  

Untreated Water

• When you go to Central America, Africa and Asia, for instance, you are often told to avoid drinking tap water, especially when traveling to more rural areas. This is because the tap water in these countries is not properly treated and may contain parasites. Unfiltered tap water is going to be used in the cooking process by most street vendors, which can lead to several illnesses.