Street Food Environment in Maputo (STOOD Map): a Cross-Sectional Study in Mozambique

Abstract

BackgroundStreet food represents a cultural, social, and economic phenomenon that is typical of urbanized areas, directly linked with a more sedentary lifestyle and providing a very accessible and inexpensive source of nutrition. Food advertising may contribute to shaping consumers’ preferences and has the potential to drive the supply of specific foods.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to characterize the street food offerings available to the urban population of Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique, and the billboard food advertising in the same setting.MethodsPeople selling ready-to-eat foods, beverages, or snacks from venues such as carts, trucks, stands, and a variety of improvised informal setups (eg, shopping carts, trunks of cars, sides of vans, blankets on the sidewalk, etc) will be identified in the district of KaMpfumu. We will gather information about the actual food being sold through direct observation and interviews to vendors, and from the billboard advertising in the same areas. A second phase of the research entails collecting food samples to be analyzed in a specialized laboratory. The street food environment will be characterized, overall and according to socioeconomic and physical characteristics of the neighborhood, using descriptive statistics and spatial analysis. The study protocol was approved by the National Committee for Bioethics for Health in Mozambique.ResultsData collection, including the identification of street food vending sites and billboard advertising, started on October 20, 2014, and lasted for 1 month. The collection of food samples took place in December 2014, and the bromatological analyses are expected to be concluded in August 2015.ConclusionsThe district of KaMpfumu is the wealthiest and most urbanized in Maputo, and it is the area with the highest concentration and variety of street food vendors. The expected results may yield important information to assess the nutritional environment and the characteristics of the foods to which a great majority of the urban population living or working in Maputo are exposed. Furthermore, this study protocol provides a framework for a stepwise standardized characterization of the street food environment, comprising 3 steps with increasing complexity and demand for human and technical resources: Step 1 consists of the evaluation of food advertising in the streets; Step 2 includes the identification of street food vendors and the characterization of the products available; and Step 3 requires the collection of food samples for bromatological analyses. This structured approach to the assessment of the street food environment may enable within-country and international comparisons as well as monitoring of temporal trends.

Street food research worldwide: a scoping review

“…In those countries, urban population growth is accelerating , and street food vending is increasingly frequent , observable by a rapid propagation of food vendors and hawkers on the streets, as an informal sector of activity. In less developed countries, street food provides a cheap source of nourishment for low‐income workers of urban populations . From a cultural point of view, street food plays a significant role in maintaining country‐specific culinary traditions, with growing importance especially for more developed societies, where the interest for gastronomy associated with food tourism is increasing.…”

“…Currently, an estimated 2.5 billion people around the world eat street food every day, reflecting the increase in its popularity observed during the last decades. Street food is a cultural, social and economic phenomenon that is typical of most urbanised areas . Among urban societies, time spent cooking meals at home has decreased radically , and street foods are appealing because of their convenience, low cost and savoury taste, making them a popular food option for a daily basis .…”

Street food in Maputo, Mozambique: Availability and nutritional value of homemade foods

“…We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess a sample of SF vending sites in Maputo, Mozambique, between October and December 2014, as described in a previously published protocol (Gelormini et al, 2015).…”

Street Food Stand Availability, Density, and Distribution Across Income Levels in Mexico City

“…SFS offer affordable food and beverage options and represent food security for millions of individuals and families around the world [ 27 , 29 , 31 , 33 , 34 ]. This is especially the case for families and individuals in low-income groups who commute long distances to work and do not return home for meals and cannot afford food from more expensive venues, such as restaurants [ 27 , 29 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. SFS are also a source of income for millions of workers, as they provide opportunities to be self-employed and self-sufficient.…”