City food is convenient but has potential risks
Street food and snacks are popular choices thanks to their convenience, cheapness and variety of dishes. Dishes such as grilled skewers, mixed rice paper, stir-fried corn, milk tea, sweet soup, fried fish balls, fried pork floss... not only attract young people but also suit many subjects, from students to workers. However, besides convenience, street stores also have potential risks of food safety and hygiene, especially the "dirty elephant" group.
Grilled shops on sidewalks, school gates, night markets... although attracting buyers, do not always ensure hygiene and safety. The Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) recommends that "dirty rice" often has characteristics such as:
Poor quality ingredients: Eat pork belly, frozen for a long time, unknown origin.
Dangerous phu kien nam che: Use cheap dyes and spices to hide odor.
Reusable fried oil: Repeated use, leading to accumulation of toxins.
Dusty, unsanitary environment: Near the road, not covered, susceptible to infection.
Dirty, unsanitary tools: Grilled rice, skewers, knives, and trays are contaminated with dirt.
Unsanitary sellers: No gloves or masks when processing.
Risks of consuming "dirty" grilled skewers
Consuming unsanitary foods, especially "dirty grilled" grilled can pose many serious health risks:
Food poisoning: causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, acute vomiting. gut infections: from bacteria such as E.coli, Salmonella, plaque buildup... leading to prolonged digestive disorders. Long-term accumulation of toxins: fried oil that is re- fried many times can easily create carcinogens.
Parasite infections: if the meat is not grilled thoroughly or ingredients from infected animals.
To protect health, the Food Safety Department recommends that consumers:
Choose clean restaurants: prioritize places with clean baking areas, staff using handbags, and clear food sources.
Observe the ingredients: avoid restaurants with unusually colored grilled skewers, foul odors, or dark, black fried oil with a lot of residue.
Limit eating in dusty areas: places with a lot of vehicles, dust, and food safety.
Boost resistance: Maintain healthy eating habits and supplement vitamins to help the immune system get better.
Make at home: grilling skewers at home with fresh ingredients will be safer.
