Food safety and hygiene - perspective from street food stalls

(Baonghean.vn) - Walking around Vinh city, it is easy to see that there are many ready-to-eat food stalls and summer refreshments sold on street sidewalks, market gates, bus stations... Because of their convenience, diversity, and affordability, these types of food services always attract a large number of diners even though street foods always pose a high risk of food safety and hygiene.

Here are some pictures taken…

Sugarcane juice is "produced" right on the roadside and waste is freely discharged next to it, polluting the business environment (photo taken on Dinh Cong Tru street on May 15).

The sidewalk dessert shop on Nguyen Tien Tai Street is always crowded with customers during the hot season. However, just a few buckets of water are enough for the vendor to wash cups, bowls, spoons, etc. to serve the "gods" from 3 pm until late at night.

Mobile ice cream stalls without packaging, labels, manufacturing dates, expiration dates, etc. are still attractive to students (photo taken in front of the gate of Dang Thai Mai Secondary School)

Many students still prefer to use colorful drinks from mobile drink stalls to cool off in the summer (photo taken at the corner of Dinh Cong Trang street).

Grilled meat skewers and grilled intestines right in front of Vinh market are displayed without glass cases; the sellers do not wear gloves… still attracting customers.

Vendors do not have the habit of wearing gloves when preparing food for customers (photo taken at a banh beo shop on Hong Bang street).

However, because it is convenient, diverse, and affordable, many diners still do not care much about hygiene issues and still consider street food as popular "specialties"...

Dinh Nguyet - Ngoc Anh