Antigua and Barbuda Code of Practice for the Preparation and Sale of Street Vended Foods

0.0 FOREWORD

0.1 Street-vended foods can easily become contaminated with biological agents, which cause food poisoning, thus becoming a health hazard. Consumers do not have the available knowledge or means for determining the hygienic quality of the street-vended foods they purchase. They therefore rely on the street vendors for this.

There has been an increase in the use of Street Vended foods in Antigua and Barbuda.

The purpose of this Code of Practice is to equip street food vendors with the basic principles of food safety, encompassing the safe food chain principle.

0.2 Safe and wholesome street-vended foods can be produced through improved hygienic practices, using the safe food chain principle (safe source, safe storage, safe preparation and safe serving). This code provides guidelines for the hygienic preparation of street-vended foods. The guidelines laid down in this document shall be sufficient to ensure that street-vended foods present no public health hazard.

Consideration has been given to the fact that unless the preparation of street-vended foods is governed by a strict hygienic code with respect to site and personnel, the quality of the food produced cannot be assumed safe.

1.0 SCOPE

1.1 This code contains a series of requirements and practices to be observed in the preparation and consumption of street-vended foods and beverages.

1.2 This standard shall govern all individual and legal entities involved in the preparation and/or sale of food and beverages in the street and shall apply to places where they are prepared, points where they are sold and means of transport used. Its purpose is to ensure a food or beverage product that is safe and fit for consumption, and thus protect the health of the persons who use this type of food service.

1.3 This standard does not apply to pre-prepared, packaged foods such as potato chips, corn curls etc.

Please contact us for ordering details at:

Cnr. Redcliffe Street and Corn Alley
Telephone (268) 462-2424
Fax (268) 462-1625
Email: abbs@antigua.gov.ag