A Direct Assessment of the External Domain of Food Environments in the National Capital Region of India

Data on food environments in India and other low- and middle-income countries are scarce. The objective of this study was to assess the four dimensions of the external domain of food environments (availability, price, vendor and product properties, and marketing) in food establishments in the National Capital Region of India. The assessment focused on fruits, vegetables, and ultra-processed foods. The 60 food establishments surveyed were categorized as stores, restaurants, or mobile food vendors. Only 13.3% of food establishments sold fruits and vegetables. Stores were more likely to sell vegetables than mobile food vendors (14.8 vs. 6.2%, respectively) and sold a greater variety of both fruits and vegetables as compared to mobile food vendors [mean (SD) of 8.6 (3.2) fruits and 18.6 (9.2) vegetables available at stores vs. 5.5 (5.7) fruits and 25 vegetables available at the one mobile food vendor who sold vegetables]. However, these healthy food items were more expensive at stores. The availability (100% of stores, 12.5% of mobile food vendors, and 12.5% of restaurants) and variety (156 types) of ultra-processed foods across food establishments were higher than fruits and vegetables. A greater percentage of food establishments displayed advertisements for ultra-processed foods as compared to unprocessed or minimally processed foods such as fruits and vegetables. The National Capital Region of India has an unhealthy food environment. Regulations that limit the availability of ultra-processed foods and improve the availability and affordability of fruits and vegetables are needed to reverse the rising tide of chronic non-communicable diseases in this setting.

Microbiological Quality of Food Sold in Different Grades of Mobile Food Vendors and Canteens in Owerri Metropolis

The need to maintain proper hygiene in different grades of mobile food vendors and canteens cannot be overemphasized. The present study was conducted at Biotechnology laboratory, Federal University of Technology Owerri in August 2019 to ascertain the microbiological quality of food in different grades of mobile food vendors and canteens in Owerri Metropolis. Samples were collected from Fast food and Buka of which Two triplicates samples of rice, soup and moimoi were collected from two mobile food vendors in Owerri metropolis. Microbial count was carried out on each food sample using nutrient agar (NA) for bacteria count and sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) for fungi count. Colonies were also identified using standard procedure and biochemical test up to genera level. The result showed that the organism isolated from canteen (Buker) is higher than those of fast food. Organisms generally isolated includes staphylococcus aureus 0(0.0), Bacillius sp. 59(9.5), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 162(25.6), Proteus 0(0.0), in fast food while in canteen (Buka) the organism isolated includes Staphylococcus aureus 160(25.0), Bacillius sp. 0(0.0%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 16(2.6) and Proteus 227(36.4) and the organisms generally identified includes Penicillium sp. 20(6.4), Saccharomyces 26(8.7), Geotrichum 0(0.0%) and mucor sp. 0(0.0%) in fast food while in canteen(Buker) the organisms generally identified includes Penicillium sp. 0(0.0%), saccharomyces 45(15.0), Geotrichum 4(0.3) and Mucor sp. 205(68.3) and some of the genera that are of public health concern. The study suggests the need for continuous monitoring of the food vendors to forestall any form of infection.

Hands-on Research Reaching across Disciplines

We describe an interdisciplinary research project for undergraduate students involving microbiology and public health. Students designed and carried out two research studies on hand hygiene and the use of gloves by mobile food vendors in New York City and in a New Jersey mall. Students received training in aseptic techniques and survey methodology to carry out the multifaceted study. We discuss the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and research in the context of its value in preparing professionals in the fields of biology and public health.

Re-Regulating Loncheras, Food Trucks, and their Clientele: Navigating Bureaucracy and Enforcement in New Orleans

After Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, newly arrived loncheras, or taco trucks, provided an invaluable and overlooked service, feeding cleanup crews and reconstruction workers. Yet despite the important role these Latinx food vendors continue to fill and their growing popularity among the non-Latinx community, these entrepreneurs face challenges in accessing political and cultural legitimacy. Situating the experiences of lonchera vendors within the larger political economy of U.S. immigration legislation and food truck policy demonstrates how national trends, instead of local realities, are used to shape policies that impact these food vendors. This article uses an ethnographic framework based in New Orleans to argue that the regulation of loncheras maps onto the criminalization of immigrant communities through an emphasis on licensing and documentation. Juxtaposing the case studies of two mobile food vendors, Mateo and Magda—both undocumented—allows for a critical analysis of the ways immigrants navigate bureaucratic systems to make ends meet.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of food hygiene among mobile food vendors in a Nigerian rural settlement

Background: An estimated 2.5 billion people patronize mobile food vendors worldwide. Most vendors however have little or no formal education, which makes them unable to appreciate the most critical food handling practices. Consumers have thus borne the consequences when food is unsafe. This study aims to determine the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Food hygiene amongst mobile food vendors in a rural settlementMethods:It was a cross-sectional descriptive survey among the study population which comprised of mobile food vendors in Orlu Local Government Area in Imo state, Nigeria. Semi-Structured questionnaires written in English were administered to mobile food vendors who could read. For low literates, the interview was conducted in their local dialect by a trained research assistantResults: Respondents were mainly females (94.1%, n = 192) and between the age of 31 and 40 years (40.2%, n = 82). More than half of the respondents had secondary school education (59.8%,n = 122).The mean percentage knowledge was 78%. Less than half (43.5%, n = 89) of the respondents had an appropriate attitude towards Food hygiene. There was a strong evidence of association (χ2 = 15.582; p = 0.0001) between Knowledge of food hygiene and attitudes towards food hygiene.Conclusions: Knowledge levels of food safety practices amongst street food vendors in this rural setting was high however, this high knowledge was generally not translated into practice.

More than Food Porn: Twitter, Transparency, and Food Systems

This article explores the ways in which social media, specifically Twitter, can provide transparency to local and national food systems. Those interested in and invested in food systems should focus more attention on the mundane, but easily dismissed, photos and tweets that populate Twitter, Instagram, and other social media feeds, especially those from chefs, mobile food vendors, and fishermen and women. As evidence, the article includes excerpts from interviews with and observations of chefs, food cart operators, and fishermen and women operating in the state of Rhode Island.