Critical Control Points of Street-Vended Foods in the Dominican Republic

Hazard analyses were conducted at four street-vending stands in the Dominican Republic. Temperatures of foods were measured during cooking, display (holding), and reheating (when done). Samples were taken at each step of the operation and at 5 to 6-h intervals during display. Foods usually attained temperatures that exceeded 90°C at the geometric center during cooking and reheating. At three of the stands, foods (e.g., fish, chickens, pork pieces) were fried and held until sold. Leftovers were held overnight at ambient temperatures in the home of the vendor or in a locked compartment of the stand. They were usually reheated early in the morning and displayed until sold. During the interval of holding, aerobic mesophilic counts progressively increased with time from about 103 after cooking to between 105 to 109/g. The higher counts were usually associated with holding overnight. Escherichia coli (in water, milk and cheese samples), Bacillus cereus (in bean and rice samples), and Clostridium perfringens (in meat, chicken and bean samples) were isolated, but usually in numbers less than 103/g. At the other stand, foods (e.g. beans, rice, meat and chicken) were cooked just before serving as complete meals. There were no leftovers. This operation was less hazardous, although there were many sanitary deficiencies. Recommendations for prevention and control of microbial hazards (mainly reducing holding time, periodic reheating and requesting reheating just before purchasing) are given. The need and suggestions for implementing educational activities to alert and inform those concerned about hazards and preventive measures are presented.