Environmental and seasonal drivers of microbiological contamination in street-vended foods

Street-vended foods are an integral part of urban food systems, providing affordable meals but posing potential public health risks when hygiene and temperature controls are inadequate. This study assessed the microbiological safety of 248 street-vended food samples collected from a touristic area and two institutional neighborhoods in Lebanon during the winter and summer seasons. Samples were analyzed for coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes using internationally recognized ISO culture-based methods. Coliforms were detected in 42% of samples at acceptable or unsatisfactory levels, while E. coli and S. aureus were found in 6.85% and 4.84%, respectively. Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were not detected. Contamination was more frequent during warmer periods and in densely populated areas, reflecting the influence of environmental factors and crowding on food safety. Comparative analysis with other Mediterranean studies revealed similar contamination profiles, indicating shared regional challenges related to hygiene practices, water quality, and temperature control. The results support a predictive risk modeling framework linking contamination likelihood to crowding, season, and hygiene determinants within informal urban food systems. This evidence contributes to the global One Health agenda by informing risk-based inspection models and cross-sectoral strategies for safe, resilient street food economies.