Factors influencing consumer choices and food safety awareness in street-vended foods: A case study of Meru town, Kenya

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The consumption of street-vended foods is common in many developed and developing countries, including Kenya. This study investigated the food safety knowledge of street food consumers (SFCs) and the factors influencing their choices of street-vended foods in Meru town, Kenya. A total of 456 respondents were randomly selected from different streets in Meru town to participate in this study. Data collection was carried out through in-person interviews using pretested structured questionnaires. The results of the survey revealed that a significant proportion, 79.2% of the participants were consumers of street vended foods. In addition, the study found a gender disparity that 58.8% of respondents were male and most of them had a primary or secondary education levels, while the majority of the female respondents reported that they had obtained college education. Furthermore, the majority of the respondents were self-employed (48.7%) and earned between KES 10,000 (USD 74) and KES 20,000 (USD 148) per month. The study also found that the average weekly expenditure on street-vended foods was estimated at KES 694.25 (USD 5.14). There was a highly significant association between the income range of the SFCs and their education level (p < 0.001), age category (p < 0.001) and employment category (p < 0.001). Education level (p=0.0274) and age (p=0.0205) of the SFCs were significant factors in predicting the personal hygiene knowledge scores of the SFCs. About 31.6% of consumers reported being sick once or twice a month after eating street foods. The study revealed that convenience, cost, quantity, hygiene and service were important factors considered by SFCs when purchasing street vended foods. The findings of this study offer valuable insights that can inform the development of appropriate strategies and policies aimed at promoting food safety awareness and ensuring the availability of safe and hygienic street-vended foods in Meru town, Kenya.