Street foods

Street foods are fast foods sold by street vendors, particularly in developing countries, where they are a vital source of affordable, culturally rooted meals for millions. They are often associated with high microbiological risk due to the lack of hygienic food preparation and holding areas: unsafe water, inadequate handwashing, poor temperature control, and exposure to dust and pests. Improving street-food safety through vendor training, infrastructure such as clean water and waste disposal, and sensible inspection is a major public-health goal, one that protects consumers while preserving the livelihoods and food culture the sector sustains.