Alimentation de rue : 866 millions de malades par an, le risque sanitaire qui se cache dans nos assiettes
In Dakar, street food feeds thousands of people every day. But behind its accessibility and often affordable prices lie health risks that are still largely downplayed. Gathering this Tuesday in the Medina, journalists, experts, consumers, and community members called for better regulation of these practices.
A steaming bag of porridge, a dish served in a roadside stall, a sandwich prepared on the street… In Dakar, these scenes are part of everyday life. Quick, accessible, and often cheaper, street food has become essential for a large part of the population. But what ends up on our plates isn't always safe.
The figure is chilling. According to new estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 866 million people fall ill each year after consuming contaminated food, and 1.52 million die. These figures, published in June 2026, cover foodborne illnesses as a whole, not just street food.
And Africa is among the hardest-hit regions. Globally, children under 5 bear almost a third of the burden of foodborne illnesses, while representing only about 9% of the world's population.
From street to plate, a chain of risks
It is precisely this reality that the Association of Journalists in Health, Population and Development (AJSPD), in collaboration with the FAO, wanted to highlight during a community forum dedicated to food safety, organized this Tuesday, September 15 in Dakar.
Indeed, the problem is not limited to the intrinsic quality of the food. The water used, hand washing, storage at room temperature, handling of products, reuse of oils, and exposure to environmental contamination can all transform an ordinary meal into a health risk.
The difficulty is compounded by the fact that street food also constitutes a vital economic lifeline for many families. Street food vendors, young workers, and small restaurant owners depend on it daily.
The challenge, therefore, is to protect the consumer without further weakening those who make a living from this activity.
“Consumers cannot be abandoned.”
For Abdoulaye Thiam Guissé, permanent secretary of the Association of Consumers of Senegal (ASCOSEN), the issue is first and foremost that of protecting the citizen.
"We want consumers to be able to choose the best food for their diet," he insists, believing that people need to be more informed and aware of what they consume.
According to him, the forum comes at an opportune time. "The majority of illnesses in hospitals are linked to poor diet," he states, calling for strengthened prevention and enabling consumers to make more informed choices.
The hidden cost of unsafe food
The danger is not only human. It is also economic. The WHO estimates that unsafe food causes productivity losses and medical expenses worldwide at $310 billion per year.
In other words, behind contaminated food, there can be a sick person, a lost workday, additional medical expenses and, in the most serious cases, a death.
For the AJSPD, the challenge is therefore to make health information a genuine prevention tool. Following an "AJSPD Wednesday" dedicated to food safety and a press tour conducted in Dakar, Thiès and Kaolack on best practices in street food, this forum aims to bring institutions, journalists, restaurateurs, consumers and communities closer together.
Adama Sy
Commentaires (11)
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