Microbiology Research Laboratory, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, Minas Gerais 38025-015, Brazil.
Laboratory of Bacterial Physiology and Molecular Genetics, Center for Studies in Microbiology, Department of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora 36036-330, Brazil.
J Appl Microbiol. 2023 Aug 1;134(8). doi: 10.1093/jambio/lxad167.
Street foods play important socioeconomic and cultural roles and are popular worldwide. In addition to providing convenient and low-cost meals for urban populations, street food offers an essential source of income for vendors, especially women, and it can reflect traditional local culture, which is an important attraction for tourists. Despite these benefits, the microbiological safety of street food has become a worldwide concern because it is often prepared and sold under inadequate safety conditions, without legal control and sanitary surveillance. Consequently, high counts of fecal indicator bacteria and several foodborne pathogens have been detected in street foods. This review provides insight into the microbiology of street food, focus on the associated microbiological safety aspects and main pathogens, and the global status of this important economic activity. Furthermore, the need to apply molecular detection rather than traditional culture-based methods is discussed to better understand the actual risks of microbial infection associated with street foods. Recognition is always the first step toward addressing a problem.
街头食品在社会经济和文化方面发挥着重要作用，在全球范围内广受欢迎。除了为城市人口提供方便、低成本的餐食外，街头食品还是摊贩，尤其是女性的重要收入来源，并且可以反映传统的当地文化，这对游客具有重要吸引力。尽管有这些好处，但由于街头食品的制备和销售条件往往不够安全，没有法律管制和卫生监督，其微生物安全性已成为全球关注的问题。因此，在街头食品中检测到了大量粪便指示菌和几种食源性病原体。本综述介绍了街头食品的微生物学，重点介绍了相关的微生物安全性方面和主要病原体，以及这一重要经济活动的全球状况。此外，还讨论了需要应用分子检测而不是传统的基于培养的方法，以更好地了解与街头食品相关的微生物感染的实际风险。认识到问题总是解决问题的第一步。
