Is Eating Out Really Safe: Assessing Attitudes and Practices of Street Vendors’ in Peshawar, Pakistan

Background: Street food consumption is a common occurrence in public places, particularly in cities where it often fulfills a basic need to the urban inhabitants. Street food vendors prepare food in informal settings and are thus exposed to climate and temperature changes, poor sanitation and unsafe water supply. This aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of food vendors in preparation of food, its storage and dispensing. Objective: The aim of the current study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of food vendors in preparation of food, its storage and dispensing. Materials and Methods: Cross sectional survey conducted by interviewing 120 street food vendors in two towns of the city of Peshawar. Results: Only fifty percent of participants reported hand washing before and after handling of food. More than half disagreed with the fact that street food can lead to outbreaks. Only 18 % thought that the proper training was needed to improve their practices regarding food handling despite the majority of them accepting that safe food handling as part of their responsibility. A good financial return and self-dependency were viewed as encouraging points for opting this profession. Conclusions: Street vendors form a significant source of food consumption, requiring education and interventions in order to prevent outbreaks.