Food Safety And Hygiene Practices Among Street Food Vendors: Implication For Health In Nasarawa State, Nigeria

The study assessed food safety and hygiene practices among street vendors; and implications for health in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Three research objectives guided the study. The population for the study was 1,251 street food vendors. Proportionate random and purposive sampling techniques were used to select 303 food vendors’ respondents, thirty (30) medical personnel, and thirty (30) environmental health officers. Descriptive statistics of mean were used for answering the research questions. Findings on sources of food contamination showed vented accessories (3.71) as the major source, followed by dirty environment (3.66) and the lowest means is the poor quality of vended food (3.02). Findings on the food handling process showed washing of food thoroughly before cooking (2.99) is the most practiced among street food vendors. An item that was never accepted was excessive makeup when preparing and handling food (1.09). Findings on the roles of environmental health officers revealed prosecution of offenders (2.33) and effecting food safety rules (2.33) were the major roles practiced about food safety and hygiene except monitoring vendor activities which scored (1.33). Finally, the study concludes street food vendor training should be prioritized to improve the safety of street food, other policies and measures should also be propagated to improve the food safety knowledge and proper handling practices. It was recommended among others that environmental health officers in charge of the management of food vendors both mobile and stationary should involve the development of coordinated, effective, integrated and preventive strategies that emphasis vendor registration, formal training on hygiene practices, initial medical and periodic medical certification and regular personal and environmental hygiene checks.