Availability and Nutritional Composition of Street Food in Urban Central Asia: Findings From Almaty, Kazakhstan

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

Authors

Albuquerque, G (Author) Other; Lança de Morais, I (Author) Other; Gelormini, M (Author) Other; Sousa, S (Author) Other; Casal, S (Author) Other; Pinho, Olívia (Author) FCNAUP; Damasceno, A (Author) Other; Moreira, Pedro (Author) FCNAUP; Breda, João (Author) FCNAUP; Lunet N (Author) FMUP; Padrão, Patrícia (Author) FCNAUP

Journal

Title: International Journal of Public Health

Vol. 67 No. Article 1604608

ISSN: 1661-8556

Publisher: Swiss School of Public Health

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

Scopus - 3 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Health sciences

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-K7P

DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604558

Abstract (EN): Objective: To describe the availability and nutritional composition of commonly available street foods in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Methods: 384 street food vending sites (in 10 public markets) were assessed; information on vending sites¿ characteristics and food availability and samples of the most commonly available street foods (81 homemade; 40 industrial) were collected for chemical analysis. Results: Fruit, beverages and food other than fruit were available in 1.0%, 47.4% and 92.7% of all vending sites. Homemade food other than fruit (e.g., bread, main dishes, snacks, pastries, sandwiches, and cakes) were available in 63.4% of stationary vending sites, while industrial (e.g., snacks, chocolate, cakes, and cookies) in 45.6% of them. Industrial foods were the most energy-dense [median kcal/100 g: 438.8 vs. 267.2, p < 0.001 (homemade)]. Traditional homemade dishes were high in sodium, reaching 2,248 mg/serving (lagman) and major contributors of protein and fat to energy content (shashlik: 22.8% from protein, 68.3% from fat). Industrial chocolate and homemade cake presented the highest saturated (14.6 g/serving) and trans-fat (3.20 g/serving) contents. Conclusion: These findings advocate for the implementation of health promotion strategies targeted at vendors, consumers and other stakeholders. Copyright © 2022 Albuquerque, Lança de Morais, Gelormini, Sousa, Casal, Pinho, Damasceno, Moreira, Breda, Lunet and Padrão.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific