Evaluation of food safety and sanitary practices among food vendors at car parks in Ile Ife, southwestern Nigeria

Globally, the street food business has expanded rapidly and provides access to a diversity of inexpensive, ready-to-eat variety of food for customers. Street Food vendors (SFVs) operate where numerous customers exist and their operations are poorly regulated in Nigeria. Globally, SFVs were implicated in several outbreaks of foodborne diseases. This study therefore evaluates the behavioural characteristics and hygiene practices of SFVs in car parks in Ile Ife, southwestern Nigeria. The study was cross sectional in design and utilized interviewer-administered questionnaire on 160 randomly selected SFVs, targeting demography, food and personal hygiene practices and knowledge of foodborne diseases. Most respondents were <40 years (134, 83.7%); females (147, 91.9%); married (125, 78.1%); had at least secondary education (144, 90%); and vend whole meals (151, 94.3%), respectively. In addition, only 27 (16.9%) 'always' wash hands after using the toilet; 100 (62.5%) 'rarely' keep finger nails short while only 6 (3.8%) SFVs 'always' refrigerate leftover cooked food, though experiences power outages that compromise refrigeration temperatures. About 2/3 (61.9%) of the SFVs had no formal training and their medical status is unknown. Hence, inception and refreshers trainings should be mandatory and enforced by appropriate authorities. In addition, supportive monitoring, supervision, among others are necessary to promote compliance. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.