The Role of Street Foods as a source of Micronutrients to Resisdents of Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Vitamin A (VA), iron and zinc deficiencies are now of public health concern in Kenya. Although more than 40% of Nairobi's lower-income areas consume street foods (SFs), inadequate information exists on their micronutrient (MN) content and there is little knowledge on the contribution or potential contribution of SFs to MN intake. The study objective was to determine household intake of VA, iron and zinc, and the proportion of the intakes from SFs. Cross-sectional surveys, biochemical analysis of foods and a nonrepetitive 24hr-dietary recall were employed. A sample of 600 households was surveyed in the two study sites. Ninety street food vendors were considered for the study. At least 30% of SFs were analyzed for VA, iron and zinc content. The study sites were Kangemi and Dandora (low and middle-low income groups, respectively).