Social Research on Food Safety and Vendor Management based on

Big Data Analysis: Take Tianjin Street Food Management as an

Example

Muchen Cao

Department of Geography, College of Art and Science, Miami University, Oxford, U.S.A.

Keywords: Street Vending Economy, Fixed Stall Street Vendors, Food Safety Practice, Post-Covid China, Formalization.

Abstract: The street-trafficking economy has played a huge role in Chinese cities, especially after the epidemic.

However, concerns about street vendors’ hygiene and crowded working conditions may affect consumers’

purchases of street food. This study investigated the food safety knowledge of 111 consumers and the

expectations of street vendors. The author also observed the food handling behavior of 100 street vendors in

an automatic vending area designated by the Xiqing District of Tianjin, a first-tier city in China. The author

analyzes and discusses the collected data through big data analysis. The study found that street vendors meet

most of the consumers’ expectations in hand washing before operation, using clean utensils, separating cooked

and raw meat, but they can still improve in mask wearing, gloves wearing, hair cover wearing, food storage

in sealed containers and displaying licenses. The study shows that government regulations of demarcated

vending zones, simplified formalization process, and public supervision can stimulate good food handling

behaviors of street vendors. This study recommends the implementation of demarcated vending zones,

simplified formalization process of street vendors, and encouragement of public supervision in other cities.

1 INTRODUCTION

The street vendors have played important roles in

informal economy, social development, and cultural

diversity. They not only relieve the pressure of

employment, provide affordable goods, but also

make the urban space more vibrant. The Covid-19

has caused unprecedented employment pressure in

Chinese cities, the employed population growth in

urban areas decreased to 2.29 million in 2020 from

3.24 million in 2019, with the service sector suffered

the most, which sector accounted for 46.3% of the

jobs nationwide (CMB International Securities

2020). The government has turned to street vending

economy to offer job creation, promoting pro street

vending policies led by Premier Li Keqiang since

March 2020 in 27 major cities including Tianjin,

Chengdu and Shanghai (CMB International

Securities 2020). The pro street vending policy

piloted in Chengdu and received immediate success,

with 36,000 mobile vending stalls set and more than

100,000 jobs created in accordance with local

regulation by May 2020 (Chengdu hi-tech industrial

development zone 2020). With favorable policies,

street vending activities became a national trend that

also received financial support from large

corporations such as Alibaba and JD (Li, 2020).

While the street vending has become trendy in

China, consumers might still hold concerns over the

hygiene, food safety, and working conditions of street

vendors, which might stop them from buying street

food. This research distinguishes two main types of

street vendors. The first is mobile street vendors, who

carry carts, bicycles, or vehicles that can move on the

street for business activities. The other type is fixed

booth vendors, who operate in fixed booths and can

stay on site at the end of the working day. While there

are specific regulations regarding mobile street

vendors and fixed stall street vendors, fixed stall

vendors are usually more formalized and are required

to pay rents and legal licenses. This study is most

interested in the food handling practices of fixed stall

street vendors operating in demarcated vending zones

of Tianjin. To understand the public expectations

from street vendors and give recommendations on

improvement of street vending activities, this

research conducts two questionnaires to collect

responses from 111 consumers’ food safety

220

Cao, M.

Social Research on Food Safety and Vendor Management based on Big Data Analysis: Take Tianjin Street Food Management as an Example.

DOI: 10.5220/0011163400003437

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Public Management and Big Data Analysis (PMBDA 2021), pages 220-225

ISBN: 978-989-758-589-0

knowledge and their expectations from street

vendors, then designed a food safety practice

checklist completed based on the researcher’s

observation of 100 fixed stall street vendors operating

in the demarcated vending zones in Xiqing district of

Tianjin, China.

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

The history of Chinese street vendors can trace back

to more than 2000 years, one of the earliest evidences

of street vendors can be found in the historic texts of

the Rites of Zhou from the 2nd century BC, which

cites “morning markets were filled with traders;

evening markets were willed with vendors consisting

of husbands and wives”. Since the founding of the

People’s Republic of China in 1949, however, the

development of Chinese street vending economy has

been largely influenced by national politics. Street

vending activities were strictly prohibited until 1978,

when the Chinese economic reform facilitated the

return of street stall economy (Song 2020). Yet, from

1990 to 2019, street vending activities became an

obstacle to preserving the city’s image, leading to

exclusionary policies towards the street vendors,

such as the “National Sanitary City campaign” (Xue

& Li 2014).

The food safety aspect of street vending activities

has always been a hot topic in China and

internationally. It is estimated that about 70% of the

food-borne disease outbreak is associated with food

made outside home (Chapman, Eversley, Fillion,

2010). Shen of Anhui university (Shen 2020)

acknowledges the street-stall economy’s ability to

stimulate the economy by easing unemployment but

shows concerns about the issue of food safety and

after-sales service of street vendors. Song of East

China University (Song 2020) argues that there has

long been a gap between the food safety requirement

and street vendors’ knowledge due to the vendors’

low level of education and lack of ways for

knowledge sharing on food safety. It is indicated by

both Shen and Song that many street vendors are

reluctant to sacrifice personal profits to ensure food

safety, even in the face of governmental regulations.

While Shen expresses worries about the chances of

reinfection of Covid-19 from the often-congested

working conditions of street vendors, a report by

CMB (CMB International Securities 2020)

international argues that the open-air conditions of

the street stalls could decrease the risk of

reoccurrence of the pandemic.

Previous studies on informal street vending food

safety in Bangladesh and China have found

undesirable results. Kundu et. al. (Kundu, Banna,

Sayeed 2021) in their research in 2020 found that the

overall hygiene practices of street vendors in Barishal

and Patuakhali, Bangladesh were unsatisfactory,

especially among the vending stalls without extra

employees. Another research article by Ma et. al.

(Ma, Chen, Yan, 2019) in 2019 assessed food safety

knowledge, attitudes of street vendors and consumers

using questionnaires, and assessed street vendors’

behaviors by observation in Handan, a third-tier city

in China. Ma et. al. found that street vendors had

generally poor food handling practices, with older

consumers having worse food safety attitudes than

younger consumers. Kundu et. al. and Ma et. al. agree

that food safety training or education of street

vendors would boost the hygienic standards of street

vending stalls.

3 METHODOLOGY

Sampling was done at 100 street vendors operating in

street stalls in the demarcated vending zones of

Xiqing district, Tianjin. The sample were collected

between 19:00 and 23:00, which is the legal hour for

street vending activities. Two questionnaires each of

10 questions are designed to record 111 consumers’

food safety knowledge and expectations from street

vendors. A food safety practice checklist of 16 items

is completed based on the researcher’s observations

of 100 street vendors operating in the demarcated

vending zones in Xiqing district of Tianjin, China.

4 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Figure 1: Guests are order food.

Social Research on Food Safety and Vendor Management based on Big Data Analysis: Take Tianjin Street Food Management as an Example

221

Table1: Consumers' food safety knowledge.

Question True False Do not know

1 Food-borne diseases can cause abortions in pregnant women 78 (70.27) 3 (2.70) 30 (27.03)

2 Coronavirus can be transmitted by food 90 (81.08) 11 (9.91) 10 (9.01)

3 AIV (Avian Influenza Virus) can be transmitted by food 91 (81.98) 9 (8.11) 11 (9.91)

4 AIDS can be transmitted by food 26 (23.42) 73 (65.77) 12 (10.81)

5 Reheating the food can lead to food contamination 61 (54.95) 26 (23.42) 24 (21.62)

6 Microbes are in the skin, nose, and mouth of health people 106 (95.5) 2 (1.80) 3 (2.70)

7 Bloody diarrhea can be transmitted by food 96 (86.49) 2 (1.80 13 (11.71)

8 Washing the eggshell can prevent food-borne diseases 43 (38.74) 48 (43.24) 20 (18.02)

9 Checking the temperature of fridge periodically can reduce

the risk of food contamination

87 (78.38) 12 (10.81) 12 (10.81)

10 Swollen cans might contain bacteria 101 (90.99) 2 (1.80) 8 (7.21)

Table 2: Consumers’ expectations from street vendors.

Expectation Yes No Do not

care

Street vendors should ensure they are healthy before work 109 (98.20) 1 (0.90) 1 (0.90)

Street vendors should wash hands before operation 101(90.99) 7 (6.31) 3 (2.70)

Street vendors should wear masks to prevent the spread of food-borne

diseases

102 (91.89) 5 (4.50) 4 (3.60)

Street vendors should wear gloves to prevent food contamination 109 (98.20) 1 (0.90) 1 (0.90)

Street vendors should wear hair covers to prevent food contamination 106 (95.50) 3 (2.70) 2 (1.80)

Street vendors should store cooked and raw food separately to prevent

food contamination

105(94.59) 4 (3.60) 2 (1.80)

Street vendors should separate food and washing products to prevent

food contamination

100 (90.09) 5 (4.50) 6(5.41)

Street vendors should use detergent to wash dishes to prevent food

contamination

95 (85.59) 11 (9.91) 5 (4.50)

Street vendors should clean dish towels frequently to prevent food

contamination

106 (95.50) 1 (0.90) 4 (3.60)

Street vendors should sanitize knives and cutting boards periodically

revent food contamination

105 (94.59) 4 (3.60) 2(1.80)

Table 1 demonstrates that the consumers have

generally good knowledge of food safety with

exception of question 2 and question 8 that more than

half of all respondents wrongly believed or were

unsure of. While most respondents correctly

understood that avian influenza virus (81.98%) and

bloody diarrhea (86.49%) can be transmitted by food,

a striking 81.08% of respondents wrongly believed

that coronavirus can be transmitted by food.

Furthermore, almost all (90.99%) of respondents

correctly believed that swollen cans might contain

bacteria, and 78.38% respondents correctly believed

that checking the temperature of fridge periodically

can reduce the risk of food contamination. Moreover,

most (70.27%) respondents correctly believed that

food-borne diseases can cause abortions in pregnant

women, but 27.03% of them are unsure of that fact.

Furthermore, almost half (43.24%) of all consumers

wrongly believed that washing the eggshell can

prevent food-borne diseases, and 23.42% of

consumers wrongly believed that AIDS can be

transmitted by food. Lastly, 23.42% of consumers

wrongly believed and 21.62% of consumers did not

know that reheating the food can lead to food

contamination. Table 2 depicts the consumers’

expectations from street vendors. Most respondents

expect the street vendors to be healthy to work

(98.20%), wash hands before operation (90.99), wear

masks (91.89), wear gloves (98.20), wear hair covers

(95.50), store cooked and raw food separately

(94.59), separate food and washing products (90.09),

use detergent to wash dishes (85.59), clean dish

towels frequently (95.50), and sanitize knives and

cutting boards periodically (94.59)

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Table 3: Observed food handling behavior of street vendors in demarcated vending zones of Xiqing district, Tianjin.

Observed item

Yes No

Vendor has an unexpired license

(

)

(

)

Vendor wears a mask

(

)

(

)

Vendor wears gloves

(

)

(

)

Vendor wears a hair cover

(

)

(

)

Vendor wears clean clothes, apron

(

)

(

)

Food stored/displayed in sealed containers

(

)

(

)

Raw and cooked food are kept separate

100

(

100

)

(

)

Single use utensils are utilized

(

)

(

)

Utensils are cleaned and covered

(

)

(

)

Site is far from trash cans

(

)

(

)

Site is far from sewer and wastewater

(

)

(

)

Site is far from animals

(

)

(

)

Site is far from toilet facilities

(

)

(

)

No flies on the site

(

)

(

)

No stink smell

(

)

(

)

Recent 10 transactions made digitally

100

(

100

)

(

)

Table 3 shows the food handling behavior of 100

street vendors in a demarcated vending zone in

Xiqing district, Tianjin. All (100%) street vendors

accepted electronic payment, and the recent 10

transactions as observed by research were made

digitally. Almost half (46%) of street vendors have an

unexpired license displayed on site. Although most

(94%) vendors wore clean clothes and aprons, 68%

of vendors did not wear a mask, 78% of vendors did

not wear any sort of hair cover or hat, and 82% of

street vendors used bare hands during food handling.

While all street vendors appeared to have keep the

uncooked and cooked food separately, only 35% of

street vendors stored food in sealed containers. About

91% of all street vendors used single-use utensils, but

some (11%) vendors displayed the utensils in open

air and as attraction to customers. Although most of

the vendors were free from flies (92%) and stink

smell (98%), 53% of street vendors operated within 2

meters of trash cans. 10% of street vendors appeared

to have disposed wastewater behind their stalls. 13%

of street vendors are close to pet animals for sale.

Although the pet seller claims that these animals have

been vaccinated, there is no evidence to support this.

2% of street vendors are near removeable toilet

facilities, but the toilet facilities were sealed and

clean.

In summary, consumers have a good

understanding of food safety knowledge, and street

vendors have reached most of the customer standards

in terms of food safety. The street vending

transactions observed by the author are all done

through QR code payment, which means that the food

handler does not need to collect payment manually.

The digital mode of transactions reduces the chances

of infection while allowing the food handlers to wash

hands less frequently. This type of transaction is also

easier to meet consumers' expectations of street

vendors washing their hands before operation

(98.2%). All (100%) street vendors also did well in

storing cooked and raw food separately. 91% of street

vendors in this study used single utensils, while 11%

of them did not cover the utensils. However, only

46% of street vendors displayed their operational

licenses to indicate they are healthy to work.

Furthermore, more than half of the street vendors in

this study failed to meet the consumers’ expectation

of wearing a mask (68%), wearing gloves (82%), and

wearing a hair cover (78%).

5 DISCUSSION

Compared to earlier studies of informal street

vendors in in Barishal, Bangladesh and Handan,

China, fixed stall street vendors in Tianjin have

shown satisfactory food handling behaviors, meeting

most of the consumers’ expectations. This is the

result of a combined effort of governmental

regulations on demarcated vending zones,

encouragement in public supervision, and the

facilitation of formalization process of street vendors.

The authority prohibits outdoor commercial

activities in demarcated vending zones except for

fixed stall vendors, the vendors are also required to

Social Research on Food Safety and Vendor Management based on Big Data Analysis: Take Tianjin Street Food Management as an Example

223

follow rules regarding food types, emission of

cooking fume, and utensils cleanness. If vendors do

not comply with the rules after oral warnings they

will be fined (Tianjin Municipal People’s

Government 2016). The demarcated vending zones

are equipped with public facilities including clean

running water in each stall, clean toilet facilities,

tables, chairs, and trashcans to preserve the city’s

image. In 2019, the government of Xiqing district,

Tianjin publicly announced to simplify formalization

procedures, while ensuring the minimum procedures

still require the operators’ IDs, health certificates,

description of proposed business and sanitary

condition, and written guarantees for food safety

responsibility (Aixiqing 2019). Furthermore, article

34 of “Tianjin municipality for supervision and

administration of street vendors” states that agencies

should organize free food safety training for street

vendors (Tianjin Municipal People’s Government

2016). The consumers are encouraged to participate

in public supervision by dialing for customer

complaints and they will be rewarded if the

complaints are verified (Tianjin Municipal People’s

Government 2016). Hot-line numbers are displayed

on the signs in demarcated vending zones.

While the overall food safety practice of street

vending activities in demarcated vending zones

appears satisfactory, there are spaces for

improvement. One suggestion this study would like

to make is to make sure fixed stall street vendors

comply with the mask wearing, gloves wearing, and

hair cover wearing, food storage in sealed containers

and displaying licenses or other indications of healthy

employees through stricter supervisions and

penalties. Based on the researcher observation,

though every food vending stall have hand washing

facility, the site lacks apparent hand washing

facilities for consumers. Therefore, this study

suggests the implementation of more hand washing

facilities for consumers. While the government

clearly states that only fixed stall street vendors are

allowed to operate in the demarcated vending zone,

the researcher identified several informal vendors

and sellers that neither operated under fixed stalls nor

had legal licenses. The accumulated number of

informal sellers can not only congest the streets, but

also pose a risk on public safety. This study suggests

that the administration to either make efforts to

formalize them or to expel them.

6 CONCLUSION

The study concludes that government regulations of

demarcated vending zones, public supervision, and

facilitation in formalizing street vendors can

stimulate the good food handling behaviors of street

vendors. The consumers’ expectation from fixed stall

street vendors in this research are mostly met, with

exceptions The study suggests introducing stricter

supervision and penalty to ensure the street vendors

wear masks, gloves, and hair covers, storing food in

sealed containers and displaying licenses or other

indications of healthy employees. Furthermore, the

study suggests the government should implement

more hand washing facilities for consumers, as well

as formalizing or expelling informal sellers in the

demarcated vending zones to improve public health

and preserve the city’s image. At last, the study

recommends the implementation of demarcated

vending zones, encouragement in public supervision,

and simplified formalization process of street

vendors in other cities. In addition, since this study

only investigated one area on the spot, the sample

size and related data still have certain limitations. In

future research, the author will use more qualitative

and quantitative research methods and expand the

sample size for in-depth research.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to Dr.

Trochim of Cornell University, who inspired me to

write this research paper after taking his class.

Further, I would also like to thank my family for their

encouragement and support along the way. Without

their enlightening lectures and endless kindness, I

could not have completed this paper.

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