Assessment of the quality and safety of fast food sold on the streets of the Benfica Urban District, Angola

Food is a fundamental necessity for any society, as it directly influences the population's quality of life and is associated with the maintenance, prevention, and recovery of health. This study aims to assess the microbiological quality and safety of the main fast foods sold in public areas of the Urban District of Benfica. To achieve this, an initial survey was conducted with 50 food handlers, and samples of hamburgers, cabrité, and magoga—identified as the primary street-vended fast foods—were collected and subjected to microbiological analyses to determine the levels of Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliforms, E. coli, and Salmonella, under the Angolan standard NA 31:2013 – Microbiological Standards for Food, Sanitary Requirements. The data obtained showed that 85% of food handlers failed to comply with critical food processing parameters, including the use of gloves and masks, possession of a health certificate, knowledge of cross-contamination, periodic medical examinations, and the simultaneous handling of food and money. The results of microbiological analyses indicated that, regarding Total Coliform levels, sample H01 presented 7.0×10⁴ CFU/g, sample M03 had 250 CFU/g, and sample C02 showed no microbial growth. Regarding Fecal Coliform levels, sample M03 had 240 CFU/g, while samples H01 and C02 exhibited no microbial growth. The analysis conducted to identify E. coli and Salmonella demonstrated the absence of these microorganisms in all samples.