Factors Influencing the Extent of Food Safety Compliance among Street Food Vendors: Insights from Urban Ghana

Street food vendors (SFVs) play a crucial role in feeding billions of people daily, contributing to employment and the informal economy globally. However, their potential is hindered by challenges related to unwholesome packaging, storage, preparation, and handling practices, posing unsafe food to consumers due to low compliance with recommended food safety practices. It was imperative to understand the factors influencing SFVs extent of compliance with food safety practices especially in Urban Ghana, since their services have become part of urban social life. We employed a multistage sampling approach to close this gap by drawing data from 720 SFVs in Greater Accra, Bono, and the Northern regions of Ghana. We analyzed the data using a compliance score calculator and ordered probit regression. We found that, years of education, business location, business registration, vending experience, food handlers’ certificates, inspection frequency, vendor association, and credit access were significant predictors of SFVs extent of compliance with food safety practices. This study therefore recommends that government strengthens existing institutional frameworks to ensure effective coordination among stakeholders in carrying out their roles. Effective collaboration among key bodies such as the Food and Drugs Authority, local governments (MDAs and MMDAs), and public health units is essential for effective monitoring, supervision, training, and public awareness of food safety practices. Strengthening these efforts will enhance compliance while allowing policymakers to determine the appropriate leadership and implementation approach. Notwithstanding, future research could look at how compliance with food safety practices among SFVs improves profitability.