ABSTRACT
An online discussion on Street Foods was hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum) in September/October 2011. This was part of a study carried out by FAO’s Regional Office for Africa on possible incentives to improve the safety, quality, and nutritional value of street foods. Members of the FSN Forum network shared views on the role of street foods, on what can be done to increase the vendors’ food hygiene knowledge and practice, how to make sure their role is properly recognized by local authorities, and provided examples and best practices from their countries. There was a sense among participants that street vendors, who are mostly part of the informal sector, require careful analysis before large-scale interventions are attempted. This includes a thorough understanding of the motivating factors that bring both vendors and consumers to the table or the stall. Special attention was paid to women vendors. The online discussion also touched on the role of street foods in addressing food and nutrition security among growing urban populations, safety issues, regulatory approaches versus more incentive-based approaches, and the need for coordinated institutional interventions. This article offers an overview of the issues that arose from the discussion amongst FSN Forum participants. 1
