Safe street food, finally!

We are delighted and relieved to learn about an initiative by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) to ensure that street food is prepared and served in a hygienic way. As part of an ongoing 'Safe Food Programme, FAO have donated food carts for vendors; iccddr,b has also chipped in and training has been given to these vendors to make sure that the food they will sell is safe. 

For Bangladesh, for far too long, food safety is something that is not guaranteed especially when it comes to street food. Many people, especially in the city, depend on street food for sustenance but the level of hygiene of the vendors and the way it is prepared, is frighteningly poor. This results in people contracting all kinds of stomach related diseases, some of them being very serious and difficult to cure. Contaminated food can also cause fatalities. Thus this endeavour, to educate vendors on personal hygiene, safe, clean handling, storage and serving of food, couldn't have come at a more opportune time.

The chief health officer has promised that the DSCC will monitor the activities of vendors and make sure they practice what they have been trained to do. This includes making sure they wear gloves, caps and clean uniforms when handling food and knowing how to keep it safe for consumption. It has been announced that more such carts will be provided for the DSCC to distribute. We commend the DSCC mayor for facilitating such a programme and hope that it is more widespread. In a city that is growing exponentially in terms of its population, safe street food is a crucial component of public wellbeing.