According to a recent health study conducted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the CGIAR Initiative on One Health, there is a high risk of food contamination in small-scale food businesses operating in the informal sector of developing countries.

The study reveals that small-scale food processors, grocers, market vendors, and food service providers in this sector have significantly higher levels of unsafe food compared to formal businesses.

The study, titled "Directions for Tackling Food Safety Risks in the Informal Sector of Developing Countries," attributes the increased food contamination to several factors including a lack of awareness about food safety, poor hygiene practices, inadequate food storage and preparation methods, and unfavorable infrastructure and environmental conditions.

Despite the prevalence of informal markets in low- and middle-income economies, the report highlights the lack of comprehensive strategies in place to address food safety risks in this sector, which poses health hazards to the public.

Existing policies and resources for ensuring domestic food safety in developing countries are primarily focused on strengthening centralized food control systems.

The report emphasizes that while efforts have been made to improve food safety through testing laboratories, food business inspections, and capacity building of national agencies, the focus has largely been on medium and large formal businesses.

Insufficient attention has been given to informal food operators and businesses, resulting in missed opportunities to enhance food safety in this crucial sector.

Steven Jaffee, one of the report's co-authors and a lecturer at the University of Maryland, highlights previous studies that have exposed widespread issues of food contamination within informal food distribution networks. The report urges a shift in policies and the adoption of innovative strategies to effectively address food safety risks in the informal sector.

According to Spencer Henson, another co-author from the University of Guelph, Canada, "Continuing with the same approaches will not lead to safer food in the informal sector. We need a paradigm shift to effectively address future food safety risks."

The report provides recommendations to address these challenges, including integrating food safety into urban planning and municipal services, strengthening the capacity of informal market operators to provide safer food, and implementing targeted interventions based on the specific needs of different types of informal food operators and countries.

By embracing innovative and inclusive strategies, developing countries can enhance public health, support sustainable urban development, and improve the livelihoods of millions of informal food operators.

Hung Nguyen, co-leader of ILRI's Animal and Human Health Programme, mentions the institute's collaboration with national and local authorities to create a conducive environment, provide training and appropriate technologies to value chain actors, and establish incentives for improved practices among food producers, handlers, and consumers.