Unlike restaurants, street food is prepared in front of the customer. This transparency promotes food hygiene standards. Unlike restaurants, street food vendors usually specialize in a single cuisine and congregate at outdoor events, food markets, and festivals. You should read up on the microbiological quality of food before eating it. Listed below are some common risks and benefits. Hopefully this article will give you some ideas about where to find the best options.
Health risks
Consumers in developing countries are increasingly concerned about the health risks associated with street food. A few pathogens with significant public health importance have been isolated from some types of street food. Consumers generally understand the risks associated with foodborne diseases, but they often lack knowledge of the specific pathogeneses responsible for these illnesses. In a study conducted in Johannesburg, South Africa, Asiegbu et al. found that the most common food poisoning among street food consumers is salmonella, but few consumers knew how to recognize these dangerous contaminants.
Benefits
Street food can be an excellent source of nutrients and vitamins, but beware of the risks of harmful bacteria. This food is often contaminated with enteropathogens. Street food vendors should undergo training and education on safe food preparation and handling. They should be trained on the causes and transmission of diarrhoea, and proper hand-washing practices. Street food vendors should also adhere to strict environmental hygiene standards. It is important to note that street food vendors are not the only people who can suffer from diarrhoea.
Location
Where is the origin of street food? The food is generally associated with a specific region. However, the food’s cultural identity may change over time, especially if a territory has multiple ethnicities or is globalized. A popular example of such globalization is the Turkish kebab. These food stalls are characterized by a variety of wares. Hence, consumers should find out the exact location of the street food stalls they are interested in.
Microbiological quality
The microbiological quality of street food in various countries is still a controversial topic. This study focused on street vendors in various parts of Africa, Central America, Asia and Europe. Findings from this study show that many street vendors have unacceptable hygienic conditions. In addition, there are some practices that can help to make street food safer. Here are some tips. For food safety, don’t buy street food that is not thoroughly tested before eating it.
Cost
The amount of money spent on street food is influenced by a number of factors. Expenditure on street food is positively related to the frequency of visits to the area where street food is available. Each increase in the frequency of visits increases the expenditure per unit of street food by Rs.43. In contrast, respondents’ perception of cost negatively affects expenditure on street food. Therefore, a dummy variable was introduced to measure the cost attribute. When perceived to be too high, consumers lower their expenditure.