EVALUATION OF FOOD HYGIENE PRACTICES AMONG STREET FOOD VENDORS IN URBAN AREASEVALUATION OF FOOD HYGIENE PRACTICES AMONG STREET FOOD VENDORS IN URBAN AREAS

Abstract

Urban economies depend on street food vending since it provides reasonably priced meals for a good number of people. Still, food hygiene practices among street food sellers remain a public health concern, particularly in developing nations where regulatory control is usually lacking. This study assesses the food hygiene procedures of street food sellers in urban settings, pinpointing critical factors affecting compliance and the accompanying hazards of inadequate hygiene. A cross-sectional survey involving 200 street food sellers was performed, employing structured questionnaires and observational checklists to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices about food hygiene. From the results obtained, it was observed that 60% of vendors had gone through training in food safety. However, only 70% displayed compliance to adequate hygienic procedures. The main factors which influenced their adherence to hygiene compliance included the availability of clean water, food safety education, and conformity to local rules. In order to establish the correlation between training and hygiene compliance, a chi-square test was carried out and the outcome indicated statistically that there was no significant association (χ² = 0.0, p = 1.0). Irrespective of the several awareness on standard hygiene practices and procedures, challenges such as insufficient waste disposal facilities, absence of clean water supply, and financial limitations negatively affected the complete adherence to food safety regulations. The pressing need for concerted interventions, such as regular training, improved infrastructure, and more stringent enforcement of hygiene regulations for the improvement of food safety in urban street vending are the highlights of this research. The results presented provide significant insights for policymakers, public health officials, and food safety organisations looking forward and working towards putting an end to the incidence of foodborne illnesses and enhancing public health outcomes in urban environments.