HISTORY

Studies have shown that street vendors have always played an important role in the supply of food in urban areas. It has also been an important source of employment, especially for women.

Street food is cheap and easy to come by and also helps people to meet their basic energy and nutritional needs.

Changing lifestyles and family structures have meant changing eating habits and this has led to the increased popularity of street foods.

Women working have less time to prepare meals and commuters in sprawling cities eat on the run. Migrant workers in hostels lack cooking facilities and people living alone sometimes cooking at home time-consuming and uneconomic.

In addition to being significant source of food for the urban dweller, street food has also in recent years emerged as a tourist attraction.

Streetwise

In 2003 and 2005 CI organised a global food programme in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

The programme did research from a consumer point of view with the focus on the weak national legislation of street foods despite the high number of food safety concerns, particularly hygiene and sanitation.

Eighteen countries around the world participated in the research and contributed local technical expertise on food security and food safety.

CI members around the world

As part of the street food programme workshops were conducted in Asia and Africa with the emphasis on the education and empowerment of street food vendors as the agents of good nutrition and food safety.

‘Safe street food’ campaigns were organised in Chennai, India and Hanoi, Vietnam.

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Action
Consumer do’s and don’ts
Campaign successes
Campaign action

Facts at a glance

40%… In Accra, Ghana, residents spend up to 40% of their food budget on street food.

Key causes for the transmission of food borne illnesses through street food are poor hygiene during preparation and storage, coupled with a lack of food safety.

0… Most countries don't have policies or programmes to regulate the safety of food sold on the street.

US$10 million… The street food sector generates income, eg in Zambia, reports have street food sales with an annual turnover of US$10 million.

US$31… The amount some street food vendors in Zambia can earn per day.

80%… In Zambia 80% of street food vendors are women.

Street food preserves traditional cooking methods and use locally grown produce.