12 December, Accra – Three countries of Africa, namely, Côte-d’Ivoire, Mali and Chad have benefited from an FAO-led project on Ensuring the provision of safe and quality street food for better public health implemented in collaboration with the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought control in the Sahel (CILSS).

A multi-country workshop organized by FAO in Accra shared and capitalized on experiences from the project that aims at improving the food safety, quality and nutritional value of street foods in urban settings in West and Central Africa.

In addition to CILSS, national institutions took part in the exchanges: the Programme Nationale de Nutrition of Côte d'Ivoire (PPN), the Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments in Mali (ANSSA), the Ministry of Health of Chad and the national coordinator of the project PRASAR (Projet de Recherché et Accompagnement pour la Salubrité des aliments de la Rue) and a representative from CILSS.

Regulating and improving the street food sector

Since the 80s, FAO has been committed to improving the safety and quality of food sold in the street through several projects and initiatives. The facts show that the majority of street food vendors engage in this activity without prior knowledge of the handling, preparation and storage of food.

Diagnostic studies in countries, which informed the elaboration of this project, also show that there are weaknesses in the structure of catering services, either concerning the safety and quality of food sold either as regards to the infrastructures, certificates issued by the local authorities, among others

“A well regulated street food sector can have positive effects on all members of the society”, said Mohamed Ag Bendech, Senior Nutrition Officer at the FAO Regional Office for Africa, Accra.

“Despite similar constraints shared by the countries of the sub-region, experience shows that each country has peculiarities that have been taken into account in the formulation and implementation of the project through targeted activities and committed key stakeholders at local level”, he added.

The meeting recommended that actions by local institutions be guided by two fundamental aspects: the recognition that individuals have the right to work in order to lead a dignified life and the consumer's right to a nutritious and healthy diet, in good quantity, that meets preferred taste, traditions and basic needs.

The 2-day workshop confirmed the importance of street food in ensuring the food security of urban population in a quickly changing environment. The need to scale up the initiative and the commitment of the institutions to work on sustainable solutions was emphasized.

Contact:
Communication Unit | FAO Regional Office for Africa | Accra, Ghana | Email: [email protected]