Initiatives, actions and policies around food sales in public way

Street food vending has been one of the most representative occupations of the informal economy, especially in developing countries. However, generally, that activity is unregulated, persecuted by health agencies, and related to situation of inequality and social exclusion of vendors, which implies incipient health practices and high risk to public health, especially to consumers. This opinion paper aims to discuss the implications of food sales in public way, in the context of public policies and the initiatives of international organizations, from a preventive academic reading, with focus on labor and rights. By tracing the experiences of Ibero-America, advances were appointed, at different levels, for the recognition of this type of food vending, and proposals to promote inclusive social dynamics and health monitoring.

street food; biological pollutants; foodborne diseases; policy