Nutritional Characterization of Street Food in Urban Turkmenistan, Central Asia

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Albuquerque, G (Author) Other; Sousa, S (Author) Other; de Morais, IL (Author) Other; Gelormini, M (Author) Other; Motta, C (Author) Other; Gonzales, GB (Author) Other; Ovezov, A (Author) Other; Damasceno, A (Author) Other; Moreira, Pedro (Author) FCNAUP; Breda, João (Author) FCNAUP; Lunet N (Author) FMUP; Padrão, Patrícia (Author) FCNAUP

Journal

Title: Frontiers in Public Health

Vol. 14

Publisher: Frontiers Media

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 3 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

CORDIS: Health sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-R9Y

DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.877906

Abstract (EN): ObjectiveDescribing the availability and nutritional composition of the most commonly available street foods in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. MethodsOne hundred sixty-one street food vending sites (six public markets) were assessed, through a collection of data on vending sites' characteristics and food availability, and samples of commonly available foods (21 homemade; 11 industrial), for chemical analysis. ResultsFruit, beverages, and food other than fruit were available in 6.8, 29.2, and 91.9% of all vending sites, respectively. Regarding the latter, 52.7% of the vending sites sold only homemade products (main dishes, snacks, cakes, biscuits and pastries, bread, ice-cream chocolate and confectionery, savory pastries and sandwiches), 37.2% only industrial (ice-cream, chocolate and confectionery, cakes, biscuits and pastries, snacks, bread and savory pastries) and 10.1% both. Homemade foods presented significantly higher total fat [homemade 11.6 g (range 6.6-19.4 g); industrial 6.2 g (range 4.0-8.6 g), p = 0.001], monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and trans-fat, and sodium and potassium content per serving. Industrial wafers presented the highest mean saturated (11.8 g/serving) and trans-fat (2.32 g/serving) content. Homemade hamburgers presented the highest mean sodium content (1889 mg/serving). ConclusionsStrategies to encourage the production and sales of healthier street foods, especially homemade, are needed to promote healthier urban food environments in urban Turkmenistan.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10