Street Foods: Safety and Potential

Street food industry plays a vital role especially in developing countries by feeding millions of people. Street foods provide substantial amount of nutrients at relatively cheap prices. Street foods include ready-to-eat food and beverages, which are easily accessible and available at great convenience, giving them huge market potential. In recent years, the informal sector of street food vending has grown in competition with the formal sector. The safety and hygiene of street foods has become a global concern. Various instances of pathogenic contamination and food borne epidemics have been reported. The use of additives in excess limits such as benzoate and artificial colors, contaminants in raw materials, process contaminants, handling, and trading practices ascertain to the huge safety risk. Lack of education, knowledge in food safety and control, poor sanitary practices, and high ambient temperatures are some of the factors facilitating microbial contamination. The present review focuses on the economy of street foods, hygiene practices followed by street vendors and microbial contamination in India and globally, and ascertaining potential risk factors. Huge numbers of studies have reported the presence of bacterial pathogens in street food samples calling for stricter implementation of good manufacturing practices. Regular monitoring and safety intervention of the quality of street foods can safeguard the consumers from any possible food hazard.