Basic hygiene such as the washing of hands is an important factor in the preparation and distribution of street food.
Many school children rely on street food to provide healthy meals away from home.
The food is physically and economically accessible to most people and can help in meeting basic energy and nutrient needs. Millions of people prepare and sell street food for a living. However, for the street food sector to keep pace with rapid urbanization and for problems of food quality and safety to be overcome, new policies and actions are urgently needed. FAO's Committee on World Food Security , which met from 14 to 18 April in Rome, has recommended measures to improve the situation within the framework of anti-hunger commitments made at the World Food Summit, held in Rome last November. They carry with them great benefits and some possible risks.