February 21, 2017
Street food can be some of the most convenient food to get, especially when on a budget or traveling in a foreign country. That being said, some unkempt trucks or stalls are breeding grounds for harmful bacteria, so it’s crucial to inspect the stalls (and the vendors) to ensure that the food you’re eating doesn’t make you sick.
Luckily, most of the security measures you can take are just with your eyes. Here are seven things to look for before you buy street food.
This may be an obvious one, but sometimes we don’t check the nooks and crannies of a truck or stall when ordering food. If there’s dust or dirt anywhere near the food, that’s how you know to steer clear!
Food that’s been prepared ahead of time is more likely to have collected bacteria, and you can’t be sure when it was prepared. Foods that need refrigeration should not be sitting out in room temperature air either.
Meats from street vendors should be cooked through completely. If it’s too hot to eat right away, that’s a good sign. Remember that smaller pieces of meat cook through faster, so they’re safer than huge slabs of meat.
For example, the meats shouldn’t be in the same bowl as the veggies. Bacteria from raw food can easily contaminate cooked food, or vise versa. The safest layouts are those that have all of the different foods in separate containers.
If it’s a stall with tons and tons of food, it’s unrealistic to think the vendor would be able to manage all of it safely. Better to buy food from a vendor that specializes in a certain dish.
If not, you should be able to see them thoroughly wash their hands before touching the food. The vendor also should not handle money and then food.
If there’s a long line, or the stall has been recommended or rated highly, it’s less likely that it’ll make you sick. See if the truck or stall has a presence online, and from there you can see if it’s been reviewed.
Hope this helps you street food-lovers out there. If ever in doubt, don’t buy it. It’s better to be safe than sorry … and sick.
