ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on street food consumers in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, analyzing their eating habits, as well as their knowledge and perception about health risk. Respondents were predominantly young adult females with secondary educational levels and low income. One-third of the interviewees ate street food at least once a day, which defines as a food habit. The majority consumed salted homemade snacks and sandwiches, replacing short meals or lunch. Two-thirds chose where to eat on the basis of the aesthetic conditions of the point of sale. Seven out of ten did not rely on the quality of foods. Nine out of ten believed that street food could be contaminated. Nonetheless, the occurrence of food-borne diseases related to street food consumption was reported by one-quarter of the interviewees, with hot-dogs, salted snacks, and acarajé being mentioned as higher risk products. Among the consumers, twothirds felt personally responsible for their own health, as they chose to eat street food, thus overlooking the vendors’ and the authorities’ responsibility. These results point to the need for intervention programs involving street food consumers, aiming to protect the population’s health.
