Street Foods Are these safe?

CEBU, Philippines - Today, foods of any kind are not only served at the family table or in classy restaurants but along the streets, as well. We call it street foods.

Street foods are sold by street vendors pushing wooden carts. They are found mostly outside schools, in plazas, or at any place where people usually gather or pass by. You can find not only the typical barbecue, fish ball, tempura and kwek-kwek (tukneneng or quail egg) but also boiled Japanese sweet corn, peanuts, bibingka (rice cake), siomai, ngohiong, banana, even viands. These foods, aside from its mouth-watering appearance and delicious taste, are also dietary satisfying and nutritious. But the concern that we need to think of is not just the taste or the presentation of the food but on the preparation. Cleanliness and sanitation are now laid on the table.

As I interviewed students, the major consumer of street foods, they recognized that street foods are really delicious and cheap but not that clean and safe. Majority of them said that most of their location or puesto are near the canals or garbage area. A university doctor also said that most of the street foods are really unclean. Aside from their exposure to dust and airborne bacteria, the vendors sometimes use recycled oil which may be infected or may cause cancer because of its sediments. When the food gets cold, they are also very susceptible to bacteria and in addition to that, the cooking utensils may not be properly washed or sterilized. And the worst thing is that different kinds of people are eating uncontrollably, which means you get to share with them in the sauces. The other persons might be a bacteria carrier and you’ll never know it. Thus, the possible common diseases that one can get from such street foods are Hepatitis, Typhoid Fever, Cholera and Diarrhea. These cases are really common among those who just eat everywhere without precautions.

But you can do something about it. You can still enjoy street foods without getting into any harm. All you have to do is to check the vendor’s Health Certificate and Sanitary Permit. Take a look also at their location. Enjoy, keep safe and stay healthy.

A healthy soul needs a healthy body!