CAG, Federation of Consumer Organisations in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (FEDCOT) and CI-Asia Pacific (www.consumersinternational.org) carried out a study focussed on ‘Food Safety of street vended food in Tamil Nadu’ in 2003. This study sought to look at the existing food laws in India in general and street food in particular and to prepare a compendium of the laws. The infrastructure and facilities available for the street vendors (water, lighting, utensils etc) to carry on their vending business and the services provided by them were also looked at. The study also sought to find out if the street food vendors have had any training in food handling and the consumers’ awareness on food safety. The study in Chennai was carried out by CAG and FEDCOT in the other study areas.

An important provider of food security, the street food vendor is present in all parts of urban and semi-urban areas making food both available conveniently and at an affordable cost for consumers. Their presence in different kinds of locations within the urban or semi-urban context signifies that the sector though informal and unorganised is predominantly demand-driven. Street food vendors belong to a natural market and are an integral part of the present day urban and semi-urban scenario, though they are not formally recognized or acknowledged.
Street food being prepared and served primarily on the roadside raises concerns of food safety especially food contamination. As street food caters to a wide range of people ensuring safety of the food served is vital.

With these issues in mind, CAG began working with street food vendor in 2003. CAG, Federation of Consumer Organisations in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (FEDCOT) and CI-Asia Pacific (www.consumersinternational.org) carried out a study focussed on ‘Food Safety of street vended food in Tamil Nadu’ in 2003. This study sought to look at the existing food laws in India in general and street food in particular and to prepare a compendium of the laws. The infrastructure and facilities available for the street vendors (water, lighting, utensils etc) to carry on their vending business and the services provided by them were also looked at. The study also sought to find out if the street food vendors have had any training in food handling and the consumers’ awareness on food safety. The study in Chennai was carried out by CAG and by FEDCOT in Madurai, Trichy and Nagercoil.

The study supported threw a lot of issues that needed to be addressed- legal recognition of vendors and training for street vendors on food safety and hygiene. 

In 2005, as a follow up to the 2003 study, a unique effort to identify and train vendors from different areas in South Chennai was made. 30 vendors were trained by premier institutions in Chennai, Institute of Hotel Management and the Centre for Nutrition in Women’s Christian College and after the training a street food festival was conducted to create awareness amongst the general public and government agencies.