Nutrition knowledge and attitudes of street food handlers in Mangaung Metro Municipality in free state, South Africa
Vol 9, Issue 5, 2024, Article identifier:
VIEWS - 167 (Abstract) 65 (PDF)
Abstract
Nutritious and safe food is essential for good health. However not all food handlers especially in the street food trade know how to or are willing to prepare nutritiously balanced meals. Many non-communicable diseases are associated with poor diets, this therefore implies that habitual consumers of street vended foods could be at risk. This study therefore aimed to analyze the nutrition knowledge and attitudes of street food handlers as well as the food types sold. The study followed a cross-sectional, quantitative design using a peer reviewed questionnaire to obtain street food handler demographics, nutrition knowledge, attitudes and food types sold. Questionnaires were administered to 100 food vendors (June–August 2022) with more females (57%) than males (43%) in the sample. The nutrition knowledge responses given by vendors are indicative of a satisfactory knowledge level. None of the participants scored below 33% (i.e., ≤5/15). The vendors had positive attitudes towards nutrition. However, the meals they sold such as fat cakes and processed meats, were mostly fat and energy dense, and these have a potential to cause health issues such obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Studies on nutrition knowledge especially among this demographic are significantly fewer, and no other study of this kind has been conducted in the Free State.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
1. Steyn K, Wentzel-Viljoen E, Ketterer, E. et al. 2013. “Use salt and foods high in salt sparingly”: a food-based dietary guideline for South Africa. South African journal of clinical nutrition 2012; 26(2013): S105-S113.
2. Sousa S, Morais ILD, Albuquerque G, Gelormini, M, et al. A Cross-Sectional Study of the Street Foods Purchased by Customers in Urban Areas of Central Asia. Nutrients 2021; 13(10): 3651
3. Kroll M, Bharucha E, Kraas, F. Does rapid urbanization aggravate health disparities? Reflections on the epidemiological transition in Pune, India. Global Health Action 2014; 7(1): 23447.
4. Nonato I, Minussi L, Pascoal LDA, et al. Nutritional issues concerning street foods. Journal for Clinical Nutrition & Diet 2016. 2(1): 1-7.
5. Ervin DC. Migration, Human, and Environmental Health. University of California; 2017.
6. World Health Organization. WHO global strategy for food safety: safer food for better health. WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data; 2002.
7. Cano JMM, Díaz A, Alamilla CJ, et al. Effect of Eating Oreochromis aureus on Biochemical Markers in Young People. J Nutr Food Sci 2014; 4(283): 2.
8. Steyn NP, Labadarios D, Nel, JH. Factors which influence the consumption of street foods and fast foods in South Africa-a national survey. Nutrition Journal 2011; 10: 1-10.
9. Van't Riet, H. The role of street foods in the diet of low-income urban residents, the case of Nairobi. Wageningen University and Research;2002.
10. NHS, 2019. What should my daily intake of calories be? Available online: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/what-should-my-daily-intake-of-calories-be (Accessed 27 July 2023).
11. Hill J, Mchiza Z, Puoane T, Steyn, NP. Food sold by street-food vendors in Cape Town and surrounding areas: a focus on food and nutrition knowledge as well as practices related to food preparation of street-food vendors. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition 2019: 14(3): 401-415.
12. Yahaya F, Suriani I, Saliluddin, SM, Jibrin AG. Factors associated with food hygiene practices among street food vendors in selected food vending locations of Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria. International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences 2018; 5(2): 196-208.
13. Letuka PO, Nkhebenyane J, Thekisoe O. Street food handlers' food safety knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices and consumers' perceptions about street food vending in Maseru, Lesotho. British Food Journal 2021; 123(13): 302-316.
14. Oladipo‐Adekeye OT, Tabit FT. The food safety knowledge of street food vendors and the sanitary compliance of their vending facilities, Johannesburg, South Africa. Journal of Food Safety 2021; 41(4): e12908.
15. Mangaung Local Municipality. By-laws relating to street trading No.4. 20 January 2006
16. South African Labour Guide. Working hours and overtime. Available online: https://labourguide.co.za/employment-condition/working-hours-and-overtime (Accessed 27 July 2023).
17. Young SL, Frongillo EA, Jamaluddine Z, et al. Perspective: the importance of water security for ensuring food security, good nutrition, and well-being. Advances in Nutrition 2021 12(4): 1058-1073.
18. United Nations. Clean Water and Sanitation. Available online: https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/page/clean-water-and-sanitation (Accessed 11 October 2022).
19. UNICEF. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). Available online: https://www.unicef.org/wash (Accessed 11 October 2022).
20. World Health Organization. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Available online: https://www.who.int/health-topics/water-sanitation-and-hygiene-wash#tab=tab_1 (Accessed 11 October 2022).
21. Ponka R, Bouba AA, Fokou E, et al. Nutritional composition of five varieties of pap commonly consumed in Maroua (Far-North, Cameroon). Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences 2015; 65(3).
22. Gupta V, Downs SM, Ghosh-Jerath S, et al. Unhealthy fat in street and snack foods in low-socioeconomic settings in India: a case study of the food environments of rural villages and an urban slum. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behaviour 2016; 48(4): 269-279.
23. Charity M, Clotildah K, Tiisetso, M. Determinants of Street Food Consumption in Low Income Residential Suburbs: The Perspectives of Patrons of KwaMereki in Harare, Zimbabwe. Journal of Humanities and Social Science 2016; 16(25): 26-35.
24. Venter C, Meyer RW, Greenhawt M, et al. Role of dietary fiber in promoting immune health—An EAACI position paper. Allergy 2022; 77(11):3185-3198.
25. World Action on Salt, Sugar and Health. Salt reduction program in South Africa. Available online: https://www.worldactiononsalt.com/worldaction/africa/south-africa/#:~:text=South%20Africa%20has%20been%20hailed,further%20reductions%20enforced%20by%202018 (Accessed 07 March 2023).
26. The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa. 5 ways to 5 grams. Available at: https://www.heartfoundation.co.za/topical_articles/5-ways-to-5-grams/#:~:text=The%20World%20Health%20Organisation%20(WHO,equivalent%20to%201%20level%20teaspoon (Accessed 07 March 2023).
27. World Health Organisation. WHO warns against the dangers of excessive salt consumption. Available online: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/item/25-09-2014-who-warns-against-the-dangers-of-excessive-salt-consumption (Accessed July 2023).
28. Amao I. Health benefits of fruits and vegetables: Review from Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Vegetables: importance of quality vegetables to human health. Intechopen; 2018. p.p33-53.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54517/esp.v9i5.2171
(167 Abstract Views, 65 PDF Downloads)
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2024 PONTSO JOYCE LETUKA
License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/