Shudder with "dirty skewers" on the sidewalk

Crispy, fragrant grilled and fried skewers on the sidewalk always have a special attraction, especially for young people. However, behind that attraction are worrying potential risks regarding food safety.

The irresistible appeal of "dirty skewers"

Along the gates of primary, secondary or high schools in the province, it is not difficult to see carts selling fried food on the sidewalks. These skewers are also called "dirty skewers". Explaining this name, Hong Quan from Vinh Yen shared: "Dirty skewers is our funny way of calling street skewers. The name dirty skewers is not necessarily because they are dirty, but mainly because the shops often reuse the frying oil, so it is called dirty skewers".

With affordable prices ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 VND, a rich menu such as grilled meat, gourd skewers, cheese sticks, sausages,... and attractive flavors, grilled skewer and fried skewer shops always attract a large number of students and ordinary workers to visit.

It is not difficult to see the image of students gathering in front of the school gate, standing and choosing their favorite skewers with their friends, regardless of the black frying pan or the flies and mosquitoes surrounding the skewers that have been fried over and over again. All are ignored because of the cheap price, affordable.

Students gather to eat after school at a school gate in the province.

Nguyen Thi Trang in Lap Thach said: “After school, my friends and I often stop by a sidewalk restaurant to eat “dirty skewers” ​​because the price of each skewer is cheap, we can eat many different types instead of buying a bag and frying it ourselves.”

Trang also added that most students do not pay attention to food hygiene and safety because everyone thinks that eating less will not affect their health much.

In contrast to that mentality of students, according to a survey conducted by PV, most parents expressed concern about their children's snacking habits. Ms. Vu Cam Tu in Vinh Yen expressed: "Although I know clearly the toxicity of "dirty skewers" and have told my child not to use those products, sometimes he still secretly buys them because he likes to eat them."

In addition, not only popular in the form of sidewalk stalls, the "dirty skewer" buffet model is also flourishing. Customers only need to spend from 35,000 - 50,000 VND to comfortably enjoy dozens of different types of skewers from meat, seafood to vegetables, bringing diverse choices and irresistible appeal to consumers.

But it is difficult to ensure food safety when many stores now use black oil pans; oil cans and ingredients of unknown origin; skewers and fried meat balls that may contain borax, industrial dyes, or even spoiled meat marinated to hide the taste. Consuming these foods can cause poisoning, digestive disorders and in the long term can seriously affect health.

The dangers of eating "dirty skewers"

One of the most worrying issues is the reuse of cooking oil by street food stalls. When heated too many times, cooking oil can produce toxic substances such as acrylamide – a compound that is a potential carcinogen. Using poor quality cooking oil can also lead to the risk of cardiovascular disease and digestive problems.

A pan of black oil is fried over and over again at a "dirty skewer" stall in front of a middle school in Vinh Yen city.

The "dirty skewer" stalls located near the roadside mostly do not have glass panels to protect against air and dust, which is also one of the problems that pose a danger to consumers' health. Processing tools such as tongs, grills, and frying pans are covered in black oil and are rarely cleaned thoroughly, creating conditions for bacteria and mold to grow. In addition, many shops mix raw and cooked skewers, increasing the risk of cross-contamination.

According to the recommendation of medical experts: "Using food that does not ensure food hygiene and safety has a great impact on health. Firstly, it will cause acute poisoning with symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Secondly, if the food contains residual pesticides, it will cause symptoms of severe headaches and vomiting."

Emphasizing this issue further, the expert also shared that if using unsafe foods for a long time, toxic substances accumulated in the body will weaken the immune system, leading to the risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, affecting the nervous system, and even cancer.

To minimize the risk of these diseases, consumers need to be smart in choosing restaurants that ensure food hygiene and safety. In addition, people should buy food with clear origin and source as well as reliable establishments and addresses, and not use floating food without labels.

In addition, the Food Safety Department ( Ministry of Health ) also recommends that consumers should apply the following measures: Choose clean restaurants, prioritize places with clean grilling areas, staff wearing gloves, and clear food sources.

Carefully observe the ingredients, avoid restaurants with unusually colored skewers, foul odors, or dark, residue-filled frying oil. Avoid eating in dusty areas, places with lots of traffic, smoke, and food safety concerns.

Strengthen your immune system, maintain healthy eating habits and supplement vitamins to improve your immune system. Homemade, grilled skewers at home with fresh ingredients will be safer.

Quynh Anh

(Academy of Journalism and Communication)

Source: http://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/126116/Rung-minh-voi-“xien-ban”-via-he