'Waakye' Eaters Prone to Contamination

A new study on Ghanaian foods indicates that most people are prone to contamination from foods bought from street-vendors.

Approximately 70 per cent of waakye, a popular Ghanaian dish sampled during the research harboured pesticides, and 40 per cent contained lead, a heavy metal that inhibits children's learning abilities and affects their behaviour, even if taken in very small amounts. Cadmium, a metal, which can cause kidney failure, was also detected in many street foods.

The year-long study funded by the British government as part of an on-going collaborative research between the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of Britain, is aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of the urban poor through improvements in the quality, safety and economics of street-vended foods.

The study, "Enhancing The Food Security Of The Peri-Urban And Urban Poor Through Improvements To The Safety And Economics Of Street-Vended Foods" was launched at a workshop for stakeholders, policy makers and regulators on Street- Food Vending in Accra last Monday.

The study showed that several hazardous substances exist in street foods.

Thirty-six samples of waakye, fufu and salad collected from different parts of Accra had worrying levels of fecal contamination, insect pests, E-coli and high levels of other bacteria, namely staphylococcus aueus, clostridium perfringens and bacillus cereus. Salmonella, a deadly food poison, was also detected in some samples.

More alarming, the research established that moulds in waakye and kenkey, two popular local dishes could produce mycotoxins, which can cause cancer.

The report, however, noted that controlling moisture levels through drying and proper storage could prevent dangerous mould growth in food.

A dramatic growth in cities as well as commuters travelling greater distances from home to work has meant that the demand and supply of street foods have increased dramatically without regulation. Often, the increase has led to a decrease in the quality as well as the safety of the foods. Environmental problems, such as littering and congestion, have also been exacerbated by the increase in vendors.

Mr. Edwin Barnes, Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology expressed satisfaction that the report had seen the light of day and urged participants at the workshop to recommend solutions to the food situation because "street food is a necessary evil" and "something we have to live with."

He said despite the high economic activity of street-vendors, street food has often been overlooked because vendors pay little or no tax. Street-vendors, he noted, often overcook food and so lower its nutritional value B a practice that affects those consumers who rely on the food for their nutritional needs.

Professor Akwasi Ayenso, Chairman for the function and Deputy Director- General of CSIR noted on his part that more than 60 per cent of workers in Accra only, depend on street-vended food for lunch or supper, and most students rely on it for lunch as well.

The study suggests that workshops, which inform the vendors on proper methods of food handling and hygiene, should be encouraged and expanded. It is expected that the measures will improve the safety of food prepared by street-vendors, 88 per cent of whom have a basic or no education.

These recommendations once put in practice would benefit the whole sector and perhaps even increase the sector's $114 million annual turnover, the study noted.

Recommendations to improve the situation, which included accesses to clean water, proper disposal of sewage, regular refuse collection and refrigeration, were introduced in an earlier study.