Parents have been warned not to let their children consume street food because these are unsafe and could cause serious health problems.
The Director of Together We Help (HIAM) Health organization, Rosaria Martins da Cruz, said such foods could be dangerous especially to children, as they were not protected from dust or flies and could more easily transmit disease.
“Nothing protects the food from dust and flies, so when we buy and then eat [this food], we can get diarrhoea and it is dangerous for children,” she said.
She also expressed concern about vendors selling mango slices and other food near schools as this could harm children’s health.
Local resident Andre da Silva said food vendors earned a living by selling small items on the street and in front of schools.
“The government should introduce regulations to ban people from selling on the street, at schools and in front of the church. If they want to, they can sell at the market,” he said.
He said parents should protect their children by informing them about food safety as it was not vendors’ fault as they were just trying to earn a living.
