Search Results (183)

This study assessed microbiological contamination in street-sold meat products, focusing on Enterobacterales and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) species and their antibiotic resistance. Chicken and mutton street foods like shawarma and brochettes were tested for bacterial load, species distribution. and resistance profiles. The results showed significant contamination, with Enterobacter cloacae (5.38 Log 10 CFU/g). Staphylococcus lentus and Staphylococcus xylosus were also common, reaching 6.23 Log 10 CFU/g in some samples. Contamination levels varied significantly by food type, with chicken shawarma showing the highest risk. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high multidrug resistance, particularly among E. cloacae and Staphylococcus species. Biofilm formation an indicator of resistance was observed mainly in staphylococci and enhanced under fed-batch culture. These findings highlight public health concerns tied to poor hygiene and undercooking in street food environments. The study emphasizes the need for improved hygiene practices, standardized cooking methods, and systematic food safety monitoring to reduce contamination and antibiotic resistance risks. Full article

This study introduces Edible Streets as a distinct and scalable model of community-led urban food growing, specifically investigating the drivers and barriers to the initiative. Unlike traditional urban food-growing initiatives, Edible Streets explores the integration of edible plants into street verges and footpaths with direct community involvement of the people who live/work in a street. This study contributes new knowledge by evaluating Edible Streets through the COM-B model of behavioural change, through policy and governance in addition to behaviour change, and by developing practical frameworks to facilitate its implementation. Focusing on Oxford, the research engaged residents through 17 in-person interviews and 18 online surveys, alongside a stakeholder workshop with 21 policymakers, community leaders, and NGO representatives. Findings revealed strong motivation for Edible Streets, driven by values of sustainability, community resilience, and improved well-being. However, capability barriers, including knowledge gaps in gardening, land-use policies, and food preservation, as well as opportunity constraints related to land access, water availability, and environmental challenges, hindered participation. To address these, a How-to Guide was developed, and a pilot Edible Street project was launched. Future steps include establishing a licensing application model to facilitate urban food growing and conducting a Post-Use Evaluation and Impact Study. Nationally, this model could support Right to Grow policies, while globally, it aligns with climate resilience and food security goals. Locally grown food enhances biodiversity, reduces carbon footprints, and strengthens social cohesion. By tackling key barriers and scaling solutions, this study provides actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to create resilient, equitable urban food systems. Full article

Urban food markets are increasingly being recognized not only as centres of cultural identity and tourism but also as pivotal spaces for promoting urban sustainability. This study explores the role of urban markets in advancing sustainable cultural tourism, using Obor Market in Bucharest as a case study. As a historic marketplace and cultural landmark, Obor Market embodies Bucharest’s traditional commercial practices and community-oriented values. Through a mixed-methods approach, combining Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping and systematic surveys, we evaluate the location of markets, cultural authenticity, and visitor satisfaction. The quantitative findings reveal meaningful correlations between demographic factors (particularly nationality and age) and visitor perceptions, highlighting the market’s appeal through its authentic culinary offerings and immersive sensory experience. However, this study also identifies shortcomings in current promotional strategies employed by local stakeholders. The results suggest that urban food markets can serve as sustainable urban assets, fostering cross-cultural integration, supporting local economies, and encouraging environmentally conscious tourism behaviours. We argue for data-informed urban cultural policies that enhance the visibility, accessibility, and sustainability of such spaces, reinforcing their dual role as economic drivers and cultural touchstones. Full article

Background: Equally with other indigenous green leafy vegetables, Solunum nigrum L. has been widely consumed by the VhaVenda tribe found in the Limpopo Province of South Africa since ancient times as a source of food diversification due to its higher-quality nutritional value, sustainability, food security, and medicinal benefits. It is mostly cultivated from seeds in seedling trays and transplanted in the open field, and at the maturity stage, marketing and distribution are mainly conducting through informal markets (i.e., street vendors). However, recently, it can be found in selected supermarkets and commercial grocery stores in South Africa. The leaves and young shoots of S. nigrum are cooked solely and/or as a supplementary vegetable with Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis (Chinese cabbage), Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach), Amaranthus graecizans L. (green amaranth), Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato), and/or cooking oil for flavor. Objective: Contrary to other green leafy vegetables, few studies have been conducted on the metabolites released by S. nigrum and the influence of growing conditions on the metabolites thereof. Method: A ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance tool was used to identify the untargeted metabolites released by S. nigrum, and spectra were phase-corrected and binned with MestReNova and statistically analyzed with SIMCA 18.0.2. Results: The findings showed that a total of 12 metabolites were detected between the growing conditions. Eleven similar metabolites, such as glycocholate, chlorogenate (human health benefits), caffeine for its bitter taste, choline, 3-Chlorotyrosine (antidiabetic, blood pressure), etc., and a few vital soluble sugars, were detected in S. nigrum samples grown in the open field and greenhouse-cultivated. Glucose was exclusively detected in the S. nigrum grown under greenhouse conditions. Full article

Background: Informal markets are essential to ensuring food accessibility and supporting economic livelihoods throughout sub-Saharan Africa; however, food safety in these settings remains poorly regulated and under-resourced. As such, foodborne illnesses originating from such settings pose serious public health threats. Despite the growing reliance on ready-to-eat street foods in Namibia, little is known about the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of food handlers in informal settings. This study investigated food handlers’ KAP regarding food safety at the Oshakati Mini Market, northern Namibia, to inform environmental health practitioners and guide policymakers in improving food safety measures. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 103 food handlers using a self-administered questionnaire which assessed sociodemographic characteristics, food safety knowledge (15 items), attitudes (10 items), and practices (12 items). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression to identify associations between KAP scores and respondent characteristics. Results: The majority of respondents were female (60.2%), aged 30–49 years (69.0%), and had only primary-level education. Only 15.5% had received formal food safety training. The mean knowledge score was 64.7% (SD = 14.2), and the mean practice score was 58.2% (SD = 13.8). Attitudes were predominantly negative (60.2%), despite 95.1% acknowledging the importance of handwashing. Poor practices included low use of protective clothing (28.2%), smoking in food areas (21.4%), and inadequate utensil hygiene. Knowledge was positively correlated with good practices (r = 0.745, p < 0.01), while attitudes were negatively correlated with good practices (r = −0.745, p < 0.01). Regression analysis revealed that age negatively influenced knowledge (β = −0.265, p < 0.01), while work experience positively predicted both knowledge (β = 0.393, p < 0.01) and practices (β = 0.393, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Food handlers in Oshakati’s informal market exhibited moderate knowledge but sub-optimal food safety practices and largely negative attitudes. Limited training and education were key contributing factors. These findings highlight an urgent need for structured, context-specific food safety training and regulatory enforcement to reduce foodborne disease risk and strengthen public health interventions in Namibia’s informal food economy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem threatening the treatment of infectious diseases caused by Escherichia coli, the main source of food contamination and responsible for many infectious diseases with high indices of AR profiles. Our objective was to study the presence of Escherichia coli in foods that are distributed and prepared on the street, characterizing its sensitivity profile and resistance to antibiotic drugs commonly prescribed in this geographical area. Methods: Standard procedures were performed to identify and isolate E. coli colonies from food samples collected during a three-year study. Susceptibility assays were conducted to determine the antibiotic resistance profile, and Colony PCR assays were performed to determine the pathogenic and antibiotic resistance genes. Results: A total of 189 food samples were collected, and 100% of the samples were positive for E. coli, with higher percentages of contamination for vegetables and fruits. ETEC (lt) and UPEC (vat, cnf1, hylA) genes were identified in 100% of the samples and DAEC (afa) in 27%. E. coli exhibited high percentages of resistance against ampicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (100%) and cephalexin (45%). The most effective antibiotics were tetracycline, TMP-SMX, polymyxin, and quinolones. The AR genes tetA, sul1, catA1, strA, qnrS, and floR were identified among the samples. Conclusions: Food prepared and marketed on the streets seriously threatens human health. Ampicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid should not be used to treat infections caused by the multidrug-resistant ETEC and UPEC identified in this area. To our knowledge, this is the first study that explores the status of AR in this geographical area. Full article

Research on circular development in China’s urban planning remains limited, particularly regarding marginalized groups’ actions. This study addresses the gap by examining circular practices within informal food systems in Chengdu’s urban villages. It highlights residents’ bottom-up initiatives in food production and consumption and their interactions with the broader urban context. Using street interviews and Research through Design, it develops community-based visions to improve these actions and the needed planning tools for implementation. It also explores how circular development could support urban regeneration by recognizing overlooked resources and practices. Semi-structured expert interviews reveal barriers in China’s planning system to accommodate such visions. Findings indicate that local circular actions—driven by local labor and knowledge and efforts to tackle polluted land and idle spaces—offer valuable opportunities for circular development. However, deficiencies in planning tools for spatial planning, waste treatment, land contamination regulation, and vulnerability recognition create barriers to upscaling these initiatives. This study calls for integrating circular development into China’s spatial planning by strengthening top-down tools and fostering grassroots initiatives to promote sustainable resource flows, ecosystem health, and social equity. It also offers broader insights into promoting circular development by recognizing and integrating informal, bottom-up practices in cities undergoing informal settlement regeneration. Full article

Foodborne diseases are a growing public health problem worldwide, and chemical foodborne disease outbreaks (FBDOs) often have serious consequences. This study aimed to explore the epidemiological characteristics of chemical FBDOs in Zhejiang Province, China, and propose targeted prevention and control measures. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze chemical FBDO data collected from the Foodborne Disease Outbreaks Surveillance System in Zhejiang Province from 2011 to 2023. From 2011 to 2023, 74 chemical FBDOs were reported in Zhejiang Province, resulting in 461 cases, 209 hospitalizations, and one death. In contrast to other types of FBDOs, the percentage of hospitalized cases in chemical FBDOs was the highest (45.34%) (chi-square = 1047.9, p < 0.001). Outbreaks caused by nitrite accounted for the largest percentage (56.76%), followed by lead (17.57%). Outbreaks caused by nitrite occurred mainly in households (27), followed by restaurants (6), street stalls (5), and work canteens (3). Among all nitrite-related outbreaks, 59.52% (25/42) were caused by cooking food where it was used as a common seasoning, 26.19% (11/42) by eating pickled vegetables, 7.14% (3/42) by eating cooked meat products, and 4.76% (2/42) by eating grain products. Outbreaks caused by the misuse of nitrite in cooking mainly occurred in households (68%, 17/25), street stalls (16%, 4/25), work canteens (8%, 2/25), and restaurants (8%, 2/25). Outbreaks caused by eating pickled vegetables occurred mainly in households (90.91%, 10/11), and one outbreak occurred in a work canteen. Outbreaks caused by lead (n = 13) occurred in households, and liquor was involved in 12 outbreaks where they were caused by residents consuming yellow rice wine stored in tin pots. In view of the frequent outbreaks of chemical foodborne diseases in our province from 2011 to 2023, a variety of prevention and control measures were proposed based on the research results of the temporal and regional distribution, food and food establishments involved, and the etiological agents of the chemical FBDOs. However, the effectiveness of these recommendations needs to be further verified and studied. In general, public health institutions should further strengthen the surveillance and health education of the population. Individuals should store toxic chemicals, such as nitrates, pesticides, and rodenticides correctly to avoid poisoning by ingestion. In view of the chemical FBDOs caused by food in the catering and distribution links, relevant departments should strengthen targeted supervision. Full article

Background/Objectives: Many deprived communities in the UK have low fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, leading to poor health outcomes. Fresh Street is a place-based voucher approach that enables households to buy FV from local independent suppliers. Fresh Street Community embeds this approach within community hubs, thus enabling households to use vouchers to purchase FV from community centres. This paper explores the enablers and barriers influencing the uptake of Fresh Street Community in two UK urban areas of high deprivation. Methods: This three-phase exploratory qualitative study was informed by ‘co-production’ with community researchers at both sites: (1) literature review and observations identifying enablers and barriers in FV voucher schemes; (2) semi-structured interviews and focus groups with the research team and community food researchers to ‘validate’ the factors identified in phase 1 and to develop explanatory narratives for these factors; and (3) participatory and thematic analysis of the enablers and barriers to finalise the identified factors. Results: A total of ten enablers and sixteen barriers were validated across both sites. However, differences in local contexts and operational procedures impacted future FV voucher scheme implementation. The important role of community food researchers to engage participants and support the synthesis of findings is also presented. Conclusions: This study offers practical and critical insights for researchers, community food researchers, and practitioners on factors that influence a community centre-based FV voucher scheme to address nutritional inequalities. Full article

Investigating the historical patterns of urban growth and their drivers is crucial to informing sustainable urban planning policies, especially in cities of the Global South. In Vietnam, most studies focus primarily on city extents, offering little insight into urban growth across various provinces. This study, therefore, combined categorical land use and land cover change detection, Random Forest classification and expert interviews to quantify the urban growth between 2000 and 2020, assess urban encroachment upon other land uses, and identify key drivers shaping this growth in Thua Thien Hue province. Findings show that the urban land areas were 27.94 km², 82.97 km², and 209.80 km² in 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. Urban encroachment upon other land use types, especially cropland, barren land, rice paddies, shrubs, and forests, was observed in these periods. Additionally, accessibility to built-up areas, DEM, proximity to rice paddies, slope, proximity to street roads, accessibility to social areas, and proximity to cropland are the major spatial drivers of urban growth in the province. The study concludes that rapid urban expansion is evident in the province at the expense of other land use types, especially agricultural land use types, which may impact food security and livelihoods in the province. Full article

Given the constraints of limited cultivated land resources, ensuring and enhancing crop productivity are crucial for food security. This study takes Chengdu as a case study. Using the cultivated land productivity (CLP) evaluation model, we calculated the cultivated land productivity index (CLPI) and analyzed its spatial distribution characteristics. The Geographical Detector model was employed to identify the main factors influencing CLP, and corresponding countermeasures and measures were proposed based on the limiting degrees of these factors. The findings reveal that Chengdu’s CLP index ranges from 1231 to 3053. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis indicates a spatial agglomeration pattern in Chengdu’s overall crop productivity distribution. The local spatial autocorrelation analysis demonstrates that township (street)-level crop productivity in Chengdu is primarily characterized by “high–high”, “low–low”, and “low–high” clusters. Key factors influencing the spatial differentiation of CLP in Chengdu include the agronomic management level, soil bulk density, irrigation guarantee rate, soil body configuration, field slope, and farmland flood control standard. Interaction detection shows that there are both double-factor and nonlinear enhancements among the factors. Specifically, the interaction between soil bulk density and the agronomic management level among other factors have the most explanatory power for the spatial differentiation of CLP. The CLP in Chengdu is highly restricted by its technical level, with the agronomic management level severely limiting CLP by more than 50%. These research results provide a theoretical reference for regional high-standard farmland construction and the protection and utilization of cultivated land resources. Full article

Non-typhoidal salmonellosis is a foodborne disease caused by Salmonella spp. Most outbreaks of this disease are commonly associated with consuming contaminated meat products, hence the importance of monitoring ready-to-eat artisanal pork sausages for the presence of these bacteria. A total of 494 samples of grilled and smoked barbecue artisanal pork sausages were collected at food outlets from 12 municipalities of the Department of Quindío, Colombia, between 2017 and 2022. Salmonella spp. was identified using VIDAS^® Easy SLM and confirmed through API^® 20 E. Salmonella spp. was detected in 260 samples (52.6%), and the highest rates of contamination were found in Armenia (65.7%), Salento (65.2%), Circasia (57.7%), and Calarcá (56.4%). The highest proportion of these samples positive for Salmonella spp. was ready-to-eat smoked barbecue artisanal sausages (68.8%) sold by street vendors (58.4%) from 12 municipalities of the Department of Quindío. A significant association was observed between the municipality and contamination of samples with Salmonella spp. However, no link was found between the sampling year and the presence of the bacteria. This is the first study aimed at monitoring the presence of Salmonella spp. in artisanal pork sausages sold in the municipalities of the Department of Quindío over a 6-year period, and findings revealed very high percentages of contamination. Although Colombian legislation establishes sanitary and safety requirements for meat production, the presence of Salmonella spp. in artisanal sausages remains a persistent public health threat in developing countries. Full article

The measurement of atmospheric deposition fluxes is an excellent tool for assessing the contamination of territory and the subsequent exposure of the population to major contaminants through the food chain. In this context, the aim of this study was to measure the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) deposition fluxes in the city of Rome (ISS Station) during the year 2022/2023 at two different heights above the ground (vertical profile), in order to evaluate the influence that the vertical profile has on PAH deposition. Two measuring positions were identified, one at street level and one at a height of 20 m. The collection of bulk atmospheric depositions was carried out approximately every 30 days, and the PAHs were determined according to the indications given in ISTISAN Report 06/38 and Standard UNI EN 15980:2011. The results show that throughout the year, the deposition rates of settleable dust were always higher at the lower (annual average of 48.5 mg m⁻² day⁻¹) collection position than at the higher position (annual average of 17.5 mg m⁻² day⁻¹). Despite this difference, the concentrations and profiles of the main PAHs analyzed, as indicated in EU Directive 2024/2881, in the dust collected at the two positions were almost similar, showing that the vertical profile did not influence the composition and concentration of PAHs in the collected settleable dust. Furthermore, a comparison of the deposition rates of sedimentable dust and PAHs with the legislative references currently present in Europe was made, highlighting that in the city of Rome during the monitoring period of this study, the values of dust and PAHs were lower than the limit and guide values and were also in line with other Italian urban locations. Full article

Food insecurity (FI) is a persistent issue in Brazil, with significant disparities existing across the country’s macroregions. This study investigated the food acquisition locations and types of foods purchased at different levels of FI, utilizing data from 57,920 households in the 2017–2018 Brazilian Household Budget Survey. Food acquisition locations were grouped into supermarkets, small markets, street fairs/fruit and vegetable stores/public markets, and others. Foods were categorized into 12 groups: rice, beans, vegetables, fruits, red meats, fish, poultry, eggs, milk and dairy products, bread, cookies, and sugary drinks. Supermarkets are the primary source of food in Brazil. However, in the North and Northeast regions, small markets are more frequently used across all levels of FI. Nationally, most food groups are predominantly purchased at supermarkets. Nevertheless, households experiencing moderate or severe FI rely more on small markets for essential items such as rice, beans, and proteins, as well as ultraprocessed foods. These findings highlight the need for public policies that improve food access for vulnerable populations and address regional inequalities. Enhancing access and ensuring food security across different regions is essential to promoting equitable and healthy diets throughout the country. Full article

Background. International public health agencies recommend policies to improve diets and promote healthy eating, but implementation often falters due to varying contextual factors across regions. Objectives. This study evaluates the relevance and applicability of these policies in urban areas of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Methods. Using the Delphi technique, we convened a panel of 21 experts from 13 LAC countries, representing public policy, research, social action, and healthcare. Over two consultation rounds, the panel assessed 21 potential actions that local actors could implement to promote healthy eating by altering the physical and social environments. Data analysis led to a consensus on classifying these actions as high priority, low priority, or debatable. Results. The panel highlighted several contextual factors affecting policy implementation in the LAC region. For example, the informal nature (such as informal street vending) of many food establishments in the LAC region complicates zoning policies, such as restrictions in areas near schools, making them difficult to enforce and likely to face resistance. Conclusions. The panel identified eight actions as high priority, eight as low priority, and five as debatable for implementation at local level in the LAC region. Full article