Dear Sir,
No doubt street foods offer multiple choices and benefits for the poor daily wagers or low salary earners yet it appears that any cost addition by way of improving by mainstreaming or for quality / food safety / availability, any official intervention would be at a cost to the health / promotion of street food industry anywhere. What I mean is that in the developing country scenario any official interventions for any kind of controls are likely to impact negatively towards the well- being & the growth of street foods. Because it is such a market domain where rules are drawn only by market forces related to any prevailing socio-economic situation, local tastes, staples, city, region or a country parameters. In this small sector civic, social pressure and table talk on the spot by routine consumers matters and affects much more than drawing any lines for monitoring and evaluation. Nearby availability and cost range are most important in this street industry of developing countries.
In rich countries like USA, however, the street food (in New York), for example, is eaten more for variety , fun, long shopping hauls or picnic but in developing. In the poor countries it is the option due to price and quantity to fill the belly with appetizing local taste. Similarly going by packaging/labeling/cleanliness it is more presentable, safe, nutritious and hygienic in NY where the cost is almost near to eating food in a average / common restaurant which is not the case in developing countries of Asia or Africa. People in rich countries eat street food more for variety or picnic but in developing poor countries it is option due to price and quantity to fill the belly with local taste.
Keeping this in mind it can certainly be said that the promotion of urban and peri-urban agriculture and horticulture by helpful intervention of local authorities is likely to improve health and strength of street foods. Urban & Peri-urban agriculture is source of fresh and economic ingredients for street foods, Quality in these ingredients means better and nutrition implements for the consumers of these street foods. The good and healthy thing about street foods is that most street foods use plenty of greens , salads , colored vegies all of which are very well known for their nutritious properties. In the modern day busy and hard working life people do not bother about buying these items separately for their home made foods due to cost and non-realisation of their nutritional importance.
So, I am all for the support of urban and periurban agriculture and horticulture: perspectives for a strategic coalition towards food security. Positive interventions in these aspects would improve health and food security of people. However any intervention to improve quality / nutrition in the street food system would may not be of any benefit.
Prof. Hamid Ahmad