Abstract:
The study was conducted to evaluate food safety knowledge and practices of
street vendors in Gizan city, using standardized survey tool containing 25 questions
to test food safety knowledge and practices of 50 street food vendors. The analysis
of demographic characteristics revealed that all the participants were males and the
majority of age group of 21-30 years (40%). Most of these vendors have primary
school certificate (38%) and most of them are married (60%). Concerning health
and personal hygiene knowledge ,these people agreed that hand washing was
necessary (52%) and bathing regularly (74%). Also 76% of the respondents washing
utensils with soap, but some of the participants were able to identify the term of
food-borne illness. In this regard, they assumed that the most common contaminants
were food colours, flavours and spices (70%). Sixty two samples of food were taken
(30 grams) in sterile containers. Bacterial total viable count (TVCs) was carried out.
The results of the TVCs revealed statistical significance difference of all types of
food (P>0.05). Isolation and identification of bacteria in different types of food
were Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp, Echerichia coli and Bacillus spp.
The saving of food hygiene is difficult to practice on street in settings where
resources are scarce and surroundings are of low environmental and sanitary
standards.
