Editorial | Risky – Street food

Everyone who eats street food knows there is a chance that the food could be contaminated. Prepared in the open where it may be exposed to flies, insects and rodents, the buying public cannot be assured that this food is stored in hygienic conditions. It’s a risk people take to experience “authentic” food and this risk is usually linked to hygiene at the location and of the vendors serving the food.

However, for the estimated 2.5 billion people around the world who buy food on the streets daily, they are possibly relying on the idea that the high temperatures used in cooking these foods will kill most food-borne pathogens, thereby protecting them from harm.

An incident at the popular spot called Crab Circle near Heroes’ Park caught the attention of the public earlier this week and has led to the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) ordering its temporary closure. A 16-second video showed a vendor cleaning up herself in her stall after an alleged diarrhoea attack. Food was being prepared by other vendors in proximity. In media reports, the woman, who said she has been selling at that location for more than 20 years, explained that she experienced an emergency and that she went to have a bath at a relative’s house shortly thereafter.

GROSS

Handling food and faeces is gross. Many of the vendors are angry with the person who shot the video while ignoring the disgusting action of their colleague. There were no apologies for this horrible scene, instead the videographer was criticised for her “bad mind”. We are not surprised at that reaction, persons tend to blame the message instead of taking responsibility and being accountable for their actions. Herein lies the rub, did none of the other vendors consider this to be gross behaviour? Is this a usual occurrence such that it did not arouse even a little revulsion on their part?

Kingston’s Mayor Delroy Williams said the crab spot will remain closed until his office and the public health department are satisfied that the breaches have been corrected and the vendors have received training. So how can such a breach be corrected? The quick answer is by providing easy access to proper sanitary facilities. That is the only way to ensure that vendors relieve themselves in a dignified manner and are able to wash their hands after doing so. Ultimately, the public health authorities must share the blame for not providing easy access to sanitary facilities for both vendors and their patrons.

For those who believe this video will prove to be the death knell for crab circle, you may not have been around in the 1980s when an expose by JBC television showed equally disturbing footage which compromised vendors who had no access to toilet facilities. Three decades later, nothing has changed in that regard.

CHALLENGING

Monitoring street food operations is a challenging proposition. All street vending operations should be placed under the microscope at this time. In particular, the Public Health Department should be vigilant in insisting on proper food handling and waste disposal practices at all food establishments.

Attention should be paid to personal hygiene of vendors. Are they dressed in clean clothes, is their hair covered, do they use gloves in food preparation and in handling money? From Crab Circle to pan-chicken haven on Red Hills Road to seafood paradise at Hellshire and the St Elizabeth/Westmoreland Border, street food has become an integral part of the island’s culinary offerings, embraced by locals and visitors alike.

Unfortunately, most exhibit poor food handling practices and operate under unsanitary conditions. Recognising that thousands of people make their livelihood from vending, government needs to step up and improve the operating conditions and facilities, including the structures, provision of potable water and proper garbage disposal.

The effects of this viral video is to cast a pall on all street food vending and many families will be affected as consumer trust wanes.

How to quickly find a strategy to regain that trust and improve the sustainability of the street vending business is a most urgent task for the KSAMC and the local government ministry.