Study on perception of street food vendors about food safety in Lucknow

Abstract

The street food vendors in Lucknow operate from busy spots all over the city, lining streets, markets and traffic junctions. These foods are encompassing meals, drinks, and snacks and exposed to climate and temperature, unsafe water supplies, unsanitary conditions. A number of factors are taken into consideration when deciding on safety of street food products, such as food freshness, food adulteration, food preparation and perceived food quality. In order of these determinants, this study was conducted in urban area of Lucknow, to know the street food vendor's perceptions about food safety. The results indicate that street vendors perceived that food adulteration (23.33 %) is main determinants of food safety and followed by food freshness, food preparation, and food quality (16.67 %). Simultaneously, it was found that understanding about food safety was found highest in street food vendors of Chauk area followed by Gomati Nagar, Alambagh. And it was lowest amongst street food vendors of Mahanagar and Aliganj area. Therefore, from the practical standpoint, it is need to create awareness in order to increase awareness about food safety among consumers.