The role of street foods in the diet of low-income urban residents, the case of Nairobi
01 Jan 2002-
TL;DR: It is concluded that non-home prepared foods are an important source of food for all low-income residents and that especially street foods are the most important source for the poorest among them.
Abstract: Urbanisation and lack of economic growth have resulted in increasing urban poverty in developing countries. As urban residents rely on purchasing their foods, food security of the urban poor is predominantly determined by their purchasing power. Street foods provide many urban residents with employment and income and consumers with a fast and inexpensive source of food. The street food trade lacks official recognition in many developing countries, despite the general assumption that many poor urban families would be worse off without the availability of street foods. However, little is known to which extent street foods and other non-home prepared foods actually contribute to the diet of the urban poor. A cross-sectional survey among 1011 households from a slum and a low-middle-income area of Nairobi revealed that the majority of poor urban households consume street foods at least once a week. To assess the actual contribution of street foods and other non-home prepared foods to the diet, a subsample of 302 households was randomly selected. Within the households individual food intakes of men, women and children aged 9-14 years were assessed with three 24-hour recalls for each person. Although the level of energy and nutrient intake was higher in the low-middle-income than in the slum area, total energy intake was below recommended daily intakes in all groups. The contribution of non-home prepared foods to daily energy intake ranged from 13% for the children in the slum to 36% for the men in the low-middle-income area. The contribution of non-home prepared foods to fat and protein intake was relatively high, while to micronutrient intake it was relatively low. Adequacy of energy and nutrient intakes was similar in consumers and non-consumers from the same area. Street foods were the major source of non-home prepared foods for men, women and children in the slum area. Kiosk foods were the main source of non-home prepared foods for the men in the low-middle-income area, while street and kiosk foods were equally important sources for the women and street foods were the main source for the children from the low-middle-income area. In combination with an observed relation of increasing socio-economic levels within the areas and more complicated determinants of non-home prepared food consumption, it is concluded that non-home prepared foods are an important source of food for all low-income residents and that especially street foods are the most important source for the poorest among them. In view of the growing number of urban residents and the increasing number of poor among them and the role street foods have in providing food and income to the urban poor, the street food trade deserves recognition by local and national authorities and the attention of urban policy makers, in order to improve the opportunities of vendors to ensure their livelihood and to ensure the availability of cheap, safe and nutritious food for low-income consumers.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: The establishment of street food centres by the city council, the training ofStreet food vendors on hygiene, sanitation and the establishment of code of practice for the street food industry are recommended and the empowerment of Public Health Officers are recommended.
Abstract: The street food industry has an important role in the cities and towns of many developing countries in meeting the food demands of the urban dwellers. It feeds millions of people daily with a wide variety of foods that are relatively cheap and easily accessible. Street food sector symbolizes the street life in Africa and it operates in an unstable and precarious state because the sector lacks legal recognition. There have been noticeable increases of food vendors in Nairobi, who sell both raw and cooked food items. There are not regulated, they operate haphazardly without any monitoring of what they prepare and how they do it. A study to determine hygienic and sanitary practices of vendors of street foods in Nairobi was carried out using a descriptive survey design. A sample size of 80 street food vendors selling commonly consumed foods was selected. Data was collected using in-depth interview schedules and observation checklists. Information from the study shows that vendors lacked training on food preparation. About 62% obtained food preparation skills through observation while 33% were taught by their parents in non-formal settings. The preparation surfaces used for the preparation of raw foods were not washed regularly. Cooked foods were stored at ambient temperature in cupboards, plastic bowls, jugs and buckets were just left in the open uncovered. Eighty-five per cent of the vendors had garbage and waste bins beside the food stalls. Personal hygiene was not also observed, as the vendors never covered their heads, handled money and food at the same time and they did not wear overcoats/aprons and handled food with bare hand. Street food vendors were not aware of hygienic and sanitary practice. The food is sold to unsuspecting clients who are likely to get food-borne diseases. This study recommends the establishment of street food centres by the city council, the training of street food vendors on hygiene, sanitation and the establishment of code of practice for the street food industry and the empowerment of Public Health Officers. Key words . Street foods, hygiene and sanitation.
247 citations
Cites background from "The role of street foods in the die..."
...Although the contribution to the daily food intake of poor urban dwellers is not quantified in energy and nutrients, street foods are important in the diet of the urban poor[4]....
[...]
Posted Content•
01 Jan 2000
TL;DR: In this article, data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for 11 countries from three regions were used to test the hypothesis that intra-urban differentials in child stunting were greater than intra-rural differentials, and that the prevalence of stunting among the urban and the rural poor was equally high.
Abstract: Urban-rural comparisons of childhood undernutrition suggest that urban populations are better-off than rural populations. However, these comparisons could mask the large differentials that exist among socioeconomic groups in urban areas. Data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for 11 countries from three regions were used to test the hypothesis that intra-urban differentials in child stunting were greater than intra-rural differentials, and that the prevalence of stunting among the urban and the rural poor was equally high. A socioeconomic status (SES) index based on household assets, housing quality, and availability of services was created separately for rural and urban areas of each country, using principal components analysis. In most countries, stunting in the poorest urban quintile was almost on par with that of poor rural dwellers. Thus, malnutrition in urban areas continues to be of concern, and effective targeting of nutrition programs to the poorest segments of the urban population will be critical to their success and cost-effectiveness.
200 citations
TL;DR: Seasonal variations in food pattern did not result in seasonality in energy and nutrient intakes and the absorption of fat, fat-soluble vitamins, carotenoids, Fe and Zn bioavailability from such a diet needs further investigation.
Abstract: Background: Inadequate energy and nutrient intakes are a major nutritional problem in developing countries. A recent study in Beninese school-aged children in different seasons revealed a high prevalence of stunting and poor iron status that might be related to the food pattern. Objective: To analyse the food pattern and resulting energy and nutrient intakes of rural Beninese school-aged children in relation to season and school attendance. Subjects and methods: The study was performed in northern Benin in eighty randomly selected children aged 6?8 years. Dietary intake was assessed using observed weighed records. Food, energy and nutrient intakes were measured in post- and pre-harvest seasons. Complete food consumption data sets were available for seventy-five children. Results: Food pattern showed seasonal variations. Cereals, roots and tubers were the main staple foods. Contributions of animal products to the diet were very small. The food pattern was not different for either boys v. girls or for children attending v. not attending school. Median daily energy intakes were 5?0 and 5?3 MJ in the post- and pre-harvest season, respectively. Only fat and vitamin C showed seasonal differences (P,0?05). Energy and nutrient intakes were different for boys and girls but, unexpectedly, not for children attending v. not attending school. Conclusions: Seasonal variations in food pattern did not result in seasonality in energy and nutrient intakes. Because the children?s diet was low in animal products, protein, fat and vitamin C and high in fibre, the absorption of fat, fatsoluble vitamins, carotenoids, Fe and Zn might be low. Fe and Zn bioavailability from such a diet needs further investigation.
41 citations
Cites background or result from "The role of street foods in the die..."
...Van’t Riet((17)) has reported similar Fe intakes for children attending school but lower values for children not attending school....
[...]
...Van’t Riet(17) has reported similar Fe intakes for children attending school but lower values for children not attending school....
[...]
...The observed protein intake of the children is higher than that reported in Kenyan school-aged children (20?6 to 23?5 g/d)((17)), but is in line with the requirements (Table 5)....
[...]
...This energy intake is higher than that reported for Kenyan school-aged children from a slum area (3?6 to 4?1 MJ/d)((17)) but it is in line with the EAR, which is based on the actual weights of the children as shown in Table 4....
[...]
...1 MJ/d)(17) but it is in line with the EAR, which is based on the actual weights of the children as shown in Table 4....
[...]
01 Jan 2002
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the scope of street food vending and buying in Nairobi and quality of street foods in terms of food group variety and energy and nutrient provision, and assesses basic food hygiene knowledge and practice of vendors as well as the extent to which street foods are a source of livelihood for vending households.
Abstract: Exceptionally high rates of urbanisation in developing countries have been coupled with lack of employment and increasing urban poverty and undernutrition. Urban populations are thus utilising a variety of initiatives to enable them to survive. Street food vending is one such initiative. It is believed to have a double function in that it addresses the two increasing problems of urban poverty and undernutrition in developing countries. In Kenya, little information is available about street food vending. The sector is not officially permitted and vendors are often harassed. This study describes the scope of street food vending and buying in Nairobi and quality of street foods in terms of food group variety and energy and nutrient provision. It also assesses basic food hygiene knowledge and practice of vendors as well as the extent to which street foods are a source of livelihood for vending households.We found that street food vending in Nairobi is wide spread especially among the urban poor. Its growth reflects trends in economic and urban population growth. Although the sector offers products from all food groups, most vendors are one-food group sellers with cereals as the prominent group. In addition, major meal servings especially in working areas are able to provide more than adequate protein and iron, but their ability to provide adequate energy is limited. Meals are also poor in Vitamin A. However, where there is an income, particularly female vendors are able to sell foods of better nutritional quality than their male counterparts. Knowledge of general aspects of basic hygiene is well established while knowledge of specific issues is less spread among vendors. Nevertheless, vendors do not translate basic hygiene knowledge into safe food practices. Majority of vendors earns above the official minimum wage for Nairobi. For half of the vending households, street food vending is the main income provider. Such households are associated with the lowest socio-economic index and vendors as household heads. The vast majority of vending households feeds from the street food pot on a daily basis and obtains substantial amounts of the daily energy requirement.Therefore, street food vending (and consumption) is growing with increasing urban population. The foods, however, need improvement in terms of variety and nutrient harmonisation. Vendors are not completely ignorant of basic food hygiene practices but consumers probably do not demand safe food. Poverty and insecurity may also contribute to lack of investment of vendors into safe practices while absence of sanitation amenities at the vending sites makes it impossible to practice. Vending of street foods is a livelihood strategy for most vending households, hence banning it would strip them of a means of survival. What is needed is to officially recognise the sector, reconstruct and organise it with provision of sanitation amenities and put in place vendor training and consumer sensitisation programmes to ensure food safety and nutritional quality.
28 citations
TL;DR: The results showed that most vendors operate under unhygienic conditions and there is a need to regulate the informal food processing and marketing channels, besides trainings, infrastructural development, and code of practice and inspections which are recommended in order to enhance the quality and safety standards of street-vended chicken products.
Abstract: Food safety problems pose a great threat to the health of consumers with the greatest burden in developing countries. Street-vended foods play a key role in providing many urban dwellers with cheap, nutritious, and accessible food, but when prepared in an unhygienic and unregulated environment, they could contribute to increased food safety burden. The study investigated the microbiological recovery of work surfaces and chicken sold in Korogocho and Kariobangi North slums in Nairobi County as well as evaluating vendors' hygiene and food safety practices. This is a cross-sectional study on an exhaustive sample size of 15 vendors, and swabs of the equipment and work surfaces and chicken were taken for microbial analysis. An exhaustive sample size of 15 vendors was selected for the study. The results showed that most vendors operate under unhygienic conditions. Microbial results revealed that raw portions of chicken had the highest contamination with all the four tested microorganisms (p 0.05) predict contamination with Campylobacter and Staphylococcus. Consequently, there is a need to regulate the informal food processing and marketing channels, besides trainings, infrastructural development, and code of practice and inspections which are recommended in order to enhance the quality and safety standards of street-vended chicken products.
28 citations
References
More filters
Book•
18 Jan 1990
TL;DR: Assessment of nutrient intakes from food consumption data and the status of vitamins, A, D, and E, and niacin, and trace element status and nutritional assessment of hospital patients.
Abstract: PART 1: INTRODUCTION PART 2: FOOD CONSUMPTION AT THE NATIONAL AND HOUSEHOLD LEVELS PART 3: MEASURING FOOD CONSUMPTION OF INDIVIDUALS PART 4: ASSESSMENT OF NUTRIENT INTAKES FROM FOOD CONSUMPTION DATA PART 5: MEASUREMENT ERRORS IN DIETARY ASSESSMENT PART 6: REPRODUCIBILITY IN DIETARY ASSESSMENT PART 7: VALIDITY IN DIETARY ASSESSMENT METHODS PART 8: EVALUATION OF NUTRIENT INTAKES AND DIETS PART 9: ANTHROPOMETRIC ASSESSMENT PART 10: ANTHROPOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF BODY SIZE PART 11: ANTHROPOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF BODY COMPOSITION PART 12: ANTHROPOMETRIC REFERENCE DATA PART 13: EVALUATION OF ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICES PART 14: LABORATORY ASSESSMENT OF BODY COMPOSITION PART 15: LABORATORY ASSESSMENT PART 16: ASSESSMENT OF PROTEIN STATUS PART 17: ASSESSMENT OF IRON STATUS PART 18: ASSESSMENT OF THE STATUS OF VITAMINS A, D AND E PART 19: ASSESSMENT OF VITAMIN C STATUS PART 20: ASSESSMENT OF THE STATUS OF THIAMIN, RIBOFLAVIN, AND NIACIN PART 21: ASSESSMENT OF VITAMIN B6 STATUS PART 22: ASSESSMENT OF FOLATE AND VITAMIN B12 STATUS PART 23: ASSESSMENT OF CALCIUM, PHOSPHORUS AND MAGNESIUM STATUS PART 24: ASSESSMENT OF CHRONIUM, COPPER AND ZINC STATUS PART 25: ASSESSMENT OF IODINE AND SELENIUM STATUS PART 26: CLINICAL ASSESSMENT PART 27: NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF HOSPITAL PATIENTS
2,929 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1985
2,171 citations
TL;DR: Data from Asian nations, where diet structure is rapidly changing, suggest that diets higher in fats and sweeteners are also more diverse and more varied, and may be governed not by physiological mechanisms but by the amount of fat available in the food supply.
Abstract: Analyses of economic and food availability data for 1962–1994 reveal a major shift in the structure of the global diet marked by an uncoupling of the classic relationship between incomes and fat intakes. Global availability of cheap vegetable oils and fats has resulted in greatly increased fat consumption among low-income nations. Consequently, the nutrition transition now occurs at lower levels of the gross national product than previously, and is accelerated further by high urbanization rates. Data from Asian nations, where diet structure is rapidly changing, suggest that diets higher in fats and sweeteners are also more diverse and more varied. Given that preferences for palatable diets are a universal human trait, fat consumption may be governed not by physiological mechanisms but by the amount of fat available in the food supply. Whereas economic development has led to improved food security and better health, adverse health effects of the nutrition transition include growing rates of childhood obesity. The implications of these trends are explored.
1,346 citations
TL;DR: Data indicate an acceptable relative validity of a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire in this study population, compared with measurements of total energy expenditure and protein excretion, however, only moderate agreement with both the food- frequency questionnaire and the 24-h dietary recalls was observed.
525 citations
TL;DR: It is found that the absolute number of urban poor is increasing, as is the share of overall poverty and undernourishment coming from urban areas, and more research needs to be done on alleviation of poverty in urban areas.
410 citations