Evaluation of street food consumption patterns, vendor practices, and Salmonella enterica contamination in street tacos

Abstract

Street food is trendy in various countries, particularly in developing regions. This study aimed to investigate street food consumption patterns, vendor practices, and the prevalence of Salmonella enterica in tacos street stalls. An online survey was conducted to understand street food consumption behavior, and samples from taco street stalls were analyzed to determine the presence of S.enterica. The survey revealed that most of the population consumes street food (96.4%) primarily for their taste (44.5%). Tacos were the most commonly consumed street food products (36.6%). Of the consumers, 80.3% perceived having experienced a gastrointestinal illness due to the consumption of a particular street food. Visual inspection of street taco stalls showed that almost none of them have a stall with glass protection (98.6%). Additionally, vendors did not use gloves or hairnets. S enterica was found in street taco stalls (7/85 8.2%): red salsas (4/53 7.5%), green salsas (1/34 2.9%), onion and coriander raw mix (2/81 2.5%) and tacos (1/85 1.2%). These results underscore the importance of implementing education and training measures for street vendors, as well as enforcing stricter inspections to regulate various aspects that affect the food safety.