The street foods play an important socioeconomic role in meeting food and nutritional

requirements of city consumers at affordable prices to the lower and middle income
groups and are appreciated for their unique flavors and convenience [1–3]. Street foods
also assure food security for low income urban population and livelihood for a significant
proportion of the population in many developing countries. Street foods are described as
wide range of ready-to-eat foods and beverages or prepared at home and consumed on the
streets without further preparation [4]. These food items are usually sold by vendors and
hawkers in the streets or other similar public places. While street vended foods are
appreciated for their unique flavors as well as their convenience, they are also important
in contributing to the nutritional status of the population. In contrast to these potential
benefits, it is also recognized that street food vendors are often poor, uneducated, and
lack knowledge in safe food handling, environment, sanitation and hygiene, mode of food
display, food service and hand washing, sources of raw materials, and use of potable
water. Consequently, street foods are perceived to be a major public health risk.
In my locality which is San Juan Batangas, there are lots of street food stalls and vendors placed beside
the San Juan Plaza, especially when the night comes. Night markets or night bazaars are very
popular in my locality. Street markets which operate at night and are generally dedicated to
more leisurely strolling, shopping, and eating than more businesslike day markets. They are
typically open-air markets.

Foodborne illnesses of microbial origin are a major health problem associated with street
foods. In addition, resistance of foodborne microorganisms in multi-drug made the food
safety situation more vulnerable in public health [9]. Approximately, 200 cases in San
Juan Batangas based on our municipality are suffering from foodborne illnesses each
year [10]. Diarrheal diseases are the most common food poisoning cases and in some
cases, these can cause death. The diseases are caused by either toxin from the microbe or
by the human body’s reactions to the microbe. The traditional processing methods that
are used in the preparation, inappropriate holding temperature, and poor personal hygiene
of food handlers are some of the main causes of contamination of street foods [11, 12].
Also the foods are not effectively protected from flies and dust.
street foods are mostly prepared and processed manually and sold to the public at various
lorry terminals, by the roadside or by itinerant vendors.

GOVERNMENT

It is the role of governments to protect their subjects’ health and interests as consumers

of publicly marketed food. This duty can be met by implementing an effective and

transparent food control system which considers all aspects of the food chain, farm-to-

fork, including: feed production, primary production, food-processing, storage,

transport, and retail sale. Governments have key role in setting policy and providing

legislation that lays down minimum food safety or marketing standards that food

businesses must meet. Governments must then ensure that food businesses comply with

these requirements – through training, inspection and enforcement. By implementing

national food surveillance and monitoring programs, governments can verify if the

controls in place are sufficient to maintain a safe food supply. Finally, to ensure that

consumers’ health and interests are truly protected, governments must ensure that

consumers are provided with timely, factual and balanced information on food safety

issues.

Food legislation and regulatory control of street foods varies from country to country. A
recent review of the situation in Asia found great diversity among the legal instruments
developed to control the street food trade. Some countries had no specific legislation or
control systems at all [19, 22]. In those countries where street food activities were
regulated by law, the regulations or by-laws affecting the street food trade were part of a
larger body of legislation dealing with food, health, or environmental sanitation.
Licensing or registration systems, inspection systems, and codes of practice are other
forms of regulation that are in effect in some countries.

INDUSTRY
The role of the manufacturing food industry in relation to provision of foods especially in street
foods, weanling encompasses 4 main objectives such as customer satisfaction, safety,
providing product information and the maintenance of commercial viability. The effectiveness of
the manufacturing food industry to fulfil these roles is judged by the customer wishing to buy for
quality and convenience reasons, by the law of the land in meeting legal requirements for safety
and labelling and by its generation of profit in terms of commercial viability. Whereas it is
commonly expected that industry should fulfil a role in nutrition education this is seen as a
primary role of health professionals whilst industry needs to provide full and detailed product
information. The industry is highly creative in both its technological innovation and adaptation
and works hard at trying to satisfy the requirements of consumers, the industry, health
professionals and its critics.
The food industry is responsible for ensuring that the food that it puts on the market place or that is
served in food establishments is safe, fit for human consumption, and meets regulatory requirements of
the country where it is marketed.

For example, the processed food like fishballs and kikiams. One of the street food delicacies of every
Filipinos. It is very yummy not to mention its very cheap price.
It has been proven by research that street foods are prepared and served
unhygienically because of its surroundings. One can get bacterial and viral
infections eating contaminated food. The bacteria can be passed from the
hands of the food vendors or by the unhygienic way they prepare and serve
the food.
So, it is necessary for the food industry to make sure to meet those
responsibilities. The food industry is required to have an integrated food safety
assurance system. They should implement codes of manufacturing practices
(GMPs), the Application of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
(HACCP) and last is the Verification of Activities.

CONSUMERS
consumers should educate theirselves about the relation between food and diseases and the
importance of making proper food choices for consumption. Most consumers had a positive
attitude toward food safety and believed government intervention would help in improving the
quality of street foods. Such data can form the basis for seeking the attention of government to
undertake measures to improve the quality of foods served at various food outlets. Also, it was
found that very few consumers received information on food safety from various sources like
magazines, TV/radio, posters, newspapers, health workers, nongovernment organizations, etc.
This calls for attention of food safety educators to use a variety of audio‐visual aids to spread
the messages on food safety. Such area‐specific data on consumers' knowledge on food safety
can assist in developing food safety education programs.

the understanding of the knowledge, attitude and

practices of consumers related to safety of street food, an issue linked with
food borne
diseases which is a serious problem to public health. Knowledge, attitude and
practices scores
of consumers were found to be positively correlated with each other indicating
that
consumers with better knowledge and positive attitude follow more food safety
related
practices. There is need to spread awareness related to food safety to ensure
that good
practices are inculcated in the consumers.
The consumers need to be more aware about the consequences of health
hazards which occur
due to poor hygiene and negligence towards food safety.

ACADEMIA
Academia can play a prominent role in the food safety arena, unique from that of industry, and a
clearer articulation of how it could positively influence the current system is needed. Academia
should develop a stronger partnership with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to increase
research on regulatory issues and public health questions and facilitate the prioritization of
critical issues on drug safety. Such a collaboration could also facilitate the development of a
network of academic centers of excellence in pharmacoepidemiology to address drug safety
and risk management questions from a public health standpoint in a timely fashion. The
development and testing of methodologic innovations on drug safety should also be
encouraged.
Academia has a role in providing a neutral discussion forum between educators, industry, and
government. With the trend in evidence-based decision-making and taking science into consideration,
be it life or social sciences, the role of this sector in the risk analysis process has increased during the
years. They play an important role in both management of food safety and the communication of a
crisis.

MEDIA

Mass media have a considerable potential effect on health behavior and should be considered
as one of the tools that play an important role in communicating about food safety and health
research and services to people as well as in shaping public perceptions and decisions about
health.Healthcare professionals may influence the public with credible, evidence-based and up-
todate information on a wide range of health issues either through campaigns promoting the use
of specific procedures or through the coverage of health related issues aiming to encourage the
use of effective services and discourage those of unproved effectiveness. The impact of media
advertising on adults, children and adolescents is well documented as is concern about some
aspects of the media’s powerful influence on attitudes and behaviors towards healthy eating
habits and lifestyles. With an estimated two billion people using the internet worldwide social
media applications and the digital environment became the new way people access information.

social media is an incredible tool for communicating and educating consumers, it is also
the primary tool for spreading misinformation. The hard truth is that social media makes
idiots into experts and often gives priority to the loudest voice in a conversation, not the
most credible. Scientists must compete with pseudoscientists, bloggers, and even
celebrities, who disseminate false information and hinder trust in scientific authority.
This is problematic because consumers directly impact food safety through their food
handling, preparation methods, and voting practices. The United Nations estimates that
between 30-40% of food-borne illness is caused by poor hygienic practices in the home.
Unfortunately, consumers are not as educated on food safety as they should be. That’s
why, if used properly, social media can play a pivotal role in improving the rhetoric.
Social Media gives the food industry a platform to educate and engage with the public in
a casual and accessible forum.

RECOMMENDATION

Food safety is everybody’s concern, and it is difficult to find anyone who has not encountered an
unpleasant moment of foodborne illness at least once in the past year. Foodborne illnesses may result
from the consumption of food contaminated by microbial pathogens, toxic chemicals or radioactive
materials. Food allergy is another emerging problem. While many foodborne diseases may be self-
limiting, some can be very serious and even result in death. Ensuring food safety is becoming
increasingly important in the context of changing food habits, popularization of mass catering
establishments and the globalization of our food supply. As our food supply becomes increasingly
globalized, the need to strengthen food safety systems in and between all countries is becoming more
and more evident.

societal preferences call for hot and well-cooked food, and even milk is boiled (pasteurized). These habits
are partially responsible for preventing foodborne infections. Street food is popular in urban settings in
many countries. Hygienic conditions are improving, provided that potable water supply and clean facilities
are ensured by municipal authorities. The introduction of bottled drinking water and its popularity in urban
areas has contributed to prevent waterborne and diarrhoeal diseases in countries with inconsistent water
treatment. Political awareness and consumer education on food safety will help strengthen enforcement
of food standards, improve hygienic practices, and prevent foodborne illnesses. The “WHO Five keys to
safer food” serve as the basis for educational programmes to train food handlers and educate the
consumers. They are especially important in preventing foodborne illness. The Five keys are as follows.

Keep food surfaces clean. Wash all utensils, plates, platters, and cutlery as soon as used.

Separate raw food from cooked food.

Cook food thoroughly, to the appropriate temperature.

Keep food at safe temperatures, both for serving and storage.

Use safe water and raw materials.

Food safety refers to limiting the presence of those hazards whether chronic or acute, that may make
food injurious to the health of the consumer. Food safety is about producing, handling, storing and
preparing food in such a way as to prevent infection and contamination in the food production chain, and
to help ensure that food quality and wholesomeness are maintained to promote good health.