Defining Street Food
Street foods have been around for hundreds of years. Small ventures simply park on the side of the street and sell what they make best. Nearly every country has its own style of street food. Street food is classified as any food that is sold, ready-to-eat right from the purchase. Fairs and markets often have street vendors for the taking. Foods are often regional specialties, but most are fast foods that are eaten with the hands. Different specialties have spanned from one country to another. For instance Chinese and Thai foods are often sold on the streets of the United States. The Food and Agriculture Organization states that 2.5 billion people consume street foods each day. They are fast, simple, and usually taste better than anything in a fast food restaurant, so why not?
Because of the kinds of foods sometimes sold on the streets, they are often associated with junk foods, despite some healthy options. There are also often concerns of cleanliness. Most street food venders do not have refrigeration devices; however these kinds of foods are usually fresher than those at a fast food restaurant because they contain local ingredients. Most governments are making new food safety requirements for vendors for increased safety measures.
Some countries have more elaborate street foods than others. The United States has relatively simple carts in comparison. American choices usually include hotdogs, hamburgers, fries, crepes, pizza, corndogs, egg rolls, sandwiches, tacos, and other melting pot favorites. Other countries combine their local favors and delicacies, such as fried insects. Some street vendors allow you to purchase fresh meats and will cook them on the spot for you. A specific American favorite, that is most often found at the fair, is the fried candy bar. Vendors place a whole candy bar on a stick, dip it in a sweetened batter, and fry it like a corndog. Afterward the candy bar is covered with powdered sugar or drizzled with chocolate sauce. Twinkies and other Hostess snack foods are also commonly fried.