Abstract
The advent of urbanization and its concomitant increase in urban population has catapulted the street food industry into a crucial role in meeting the food demands of urban residents. Health experts however, have continued with the argument that numerous health hazards are associated with these street vended foods. This paper explores safety and hygiene status of urban street vended foods in Ho which has traces as an urban community being the Volta Regional capital 0town in Ghana. Data was sourced from the street food vendors, customers and key personalities at the forefront of Public and Environmental Health making use of both simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Semi structured questionnaires; in depth interviews (IDI) and personal observation were employed in data collection. In all, one hundred (100) respondents participated in the study. The analysis revealed that majority of the street vended foods in Ho was only partially safe for human consumption. Poor construction and location of vending sites, inadequate sanitary facilities, poor personal hygiene, temperature abuses and sub-standard packaging were identified as the main variables responsible for the low safety and quality of the street foods. The paper recommends that the Asogli Traditional Council, Ho Municipal Assembly, the Ghana Tourism Authority and civil society organizations should help regulate the activities of street food vendors by enforcing codes of practice for the street food business. Workshops and talk shows should be considered in order to expose food vendors to basic hygiene and sanitary practices necessary for food handling and preparation to promote food hygiene, sanitation and safety. Key words: Food vendors, safety, street food, quality.
Highlights
Street food vending is a common phenomenon in Ghanaian towns and cities
How are street foods handled in the course of preparation? What is the hygiene status of these foods at the time of customer intake? This paper explores safety and hygiene status of street vended foods in Ho township
This research used a survey research design which is a procedure in qualitative research in which investigator administer a survey to a sample in order to describe the attitudes, opinions, behaviors or characteristics of the population (Cresswell, 2002) Data was sourced from the street food vendors and key personalities at the forefront of Public and Environmental Health making use of both simple random and purposive sampling techniques
Summary
Street food vending is a common phenomenon in Ghanaian towns and cities. Street vended foods are ready-to eat foods and beverages sold by vendors and hawkers on the street or prepared in the home and consumed on the street without subjecting it to further preparation (FAO,1990). They are less expensive and the most accessible means of obtaining food. With the unprecedented urban growth and especially the increase in the size of the unemployed labour force, the demand for street vended foods has gained momentum. The ready-to-eat foods as they are generally called are sold by vendors and hawkers in make-shift stalls, push. Tourism carts by the streets and public places like mechanic sites, markets, etc
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