"Street Food That Leads to Food Poisoning: Experts Warn It Causes 420,000 Deaths"

Hygiene and Environment: The Top Priorities
Raw Food Is Risky: Basic Rules to Prevent Food Poisoning

Street food, found all over the world, is affordable and appealing, but neglecting hygiene can ruin an entire trip. To enjoy both the pleasures and health benefits of travel, it is important to remember a few basic principles.

Image of street food to help understand the article. Pixabay

On September 7 (local time), The Washington Post introduced expert advice on how to safely enjoy street food around the globe. Taylor Sen, an Indian cuisine researcher, shared that after visiting India more than 20 times, she experienced food poisoning twice, saying, "The number one rule of street food is to eat it hot and freshly cooked. I got sick because I broke that rule."

She always chooses food cooked right in front of her, and if a vendor offers pre-made food, she asks, "Can you make it fresh for me?" She also looks for stalls with many customers and high turnover, explaining that the faster the food sells, the fresher it is, and the less chance it has to sit out and spoil.

Hygiene and Environment: The Most Important Criteria

Fernando Rodriguez, a travel expert in Lima, Peru, pays close attention to the vendor’s attire and the cleanliness of the cooking area. He said, "If I see someone handling food with hands that have touched money or constantly rinsing dishes in dirty water, I avoid that place immediately."

Alvin Lee, director of the Institute for Food Safety and Health at the Illinois Institute of Technology, also emphasized the importance of the surrounding environment. "I have seen vendors selling food next to restrooms or polluted waterways, swarmed by flies," he warned, "Eating at such places is a life-risking decision."

Director Lee explained that cooking methods involving high heat, such as grilling, stir-frying, deep-frying, and boiling, are relatively safe, but lightly blanching or briefly frying food can be risky. He also noted that communal sauces kept in lidded containers with ladles pose a high risk of bacterial growth.

Raw Food Is Risky: Basic Principles to Prevent Food Poisoning

Image of street food to help understand the article. Pixabay

Raw foods should also be avoided. Rodriguez shared that he does not even eat Peru’s famous ceviche, as it is difficult to know the source and freshness of the fish. Director Lee advised removing raw vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes from sandwiches.

When drinking fruit juice, choose fruit sold with the peel on and make sure the vendor wears gloves and prepares it fresh. It is safer to avoid juices made with ice or tap water. Rodriguez said he prefers simple, cooked foods, adding, "Snacks like boiled corn, which are cooked for a long time in boiling water and sold with the peel on, are the most hygienic."

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that globally, 1 in 10 people fall ill from contaminated food each year, and about 420,000 die from food poisoning.

Abby Snyder, professor of food science at Cornell University, explained, "It is hard to pinpoint a specific vendor when you get sick from street food," and added, "Undercooked food, prolonged storage at room temperature, and cross-contamination are the main causes of foodborne illness."