Fatores que influenciam a realização de comportamentos de segurança dos alimentos por vendedores de comida de rua

Abstract

The street food sector has an economic and cultural impact, in particular development countries. The street food environment and food handling can, however, affect food safety. This study aimed to determine the underlying factors influencing street food vendors’ implementation of food safety behaviour at work, and the consequences on the microbiological quality of food prepared. 303 questionnaires based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour were administrated to Southern Brazil, on street food vendors. Moreover, microbiological analyses of Coagulase positive Staphylococci, thermotolerant coliforms, Bacillus cereus and Samonella spp. were performed in samples of ready-to-eat hot sandwiches bought from food stalls. The majority of street food vendors had positive results related to perceived behavioural control, subjective norm, attitude toward behavioural intention, and optimistic bias was identified. Microbiological assessment of Salmonella spp. and Bacillus cereus met the microbiological standards in Brazilian sanitary legislation, however, 4.8% and 2.4% of samples were inadequate in relation with thermo-tolerant coliforms and coagulase positive Staphylococci, respectively. These predictors and intention to perform food safety behaviours were positively related. The presence of optimistic bias can lead to negative consequences such as negligence in food safety behaviours during food handling. Although, microbiological analyses showed adequate results in general.