Profile and discourse of street food venders in the Reconcavo area of Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

Itinerant food sales are becoming increasingly important as they offer fast food products at accessible prices and constitute an economic alternative for the unemployed.  A quantitative-qualitative study was conducted to assess the profile and discourses of the itinerant vendors included in the segment of street food peddling. This was accomplished by using 40-question semi-structured questionnaire and the analysis of 17 discourses.  The results demonstrated that 62.5% of the vendors had a low level of education and that the main source of income came from street peddling.  In addition, 47.5% vendors reported that their opting for itinerant work was the result of non-inclusion in the formal market sector, and that this choice provided them with income, autonomy, and satisfaction. It was found that 92.5% of the vendors were inadequately attired for handling food and had never taken courses related to such activities. However, despite the lack of knowledge of safe handling practices, they demanded actions for food inspection. The results also indicated that the informal commerce of food products has a social character, and ensures employment and a source of income; at the same time, food quality is compromised by the lack of knowledge about hygiene and food handling, which require educational and regulatory actions.