ABSTRACT
Practices regarding personal and food hygiene of 100 street food vendors in East Delhi were studied by dose observations. A general physical examination of all vendors and bacteriological examination of nail scrapings of every alternate street food vendor was done. Majority of vendors (77%) were less than 40 years of age and 58% were illiterate. Only 13% of the vendors were found to wash fruits and vegetables before use. Most of the vendors used dirty utensils for storage of food (82%), 73% were storing food in uncovered utensils and 78% did not wash utensils before reuse. With regard to personal hygiene, majority (85%) did not wash hands before preparation, 93% did not follow this practice before serving. Most vending sites (61%) were observed to have dust and 49% had files in the environment. Majority of vendors had unkempt nails (87%), 22% had boils and 9% open wounds on hands. Microbiological examination of nail scrapings revealed K. pneumoniae and E. coli as the commonest pathogens isolated. There is II felt need for generating awareness regarding personal and food hygiene among the vendors, and a system for regular health examination of the vendors.