Chloe Cantunao is one of many patrons of street food sold in Colon Street, Cebu City.
He said he could spend P80 a day eating such fare as siomai (steamed dumpling), saang (conch shells) and balut (fertilized duck egg).
“I like eating street food. Not only that it tastes good, it is also affordable,” he said in Cebuano.
But when the 22-year-old Cantunao got diagnosed with hepatitis A three years ago, he became more careful with what he ate.
He said he still eats street food but buys only from those he considered to be clean.
With the annual Sinulog in full swing, the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH-7) reminded anew revelers to refrain from eating street food especially with the proliferation of food stalls near and along the Sinulog grand parade route.
“We don’t know how this food were prepared, stored and handled. They are prone to contamination,” DOH-7 Regional Director Jaime Bernadas said.
Dr. Shelbay Blanco, DOH-7 Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) coordinator, said diseases like hepatitis A, and amoebiasis could be acquired from eating street food.
The health advisory didn’t deter food stall owners like Bebino Longakit who sells ice cream to passersby.
“Sa akong amo ang ingredients ug ako mismo ang ni mix ani (I got the ingredients from my boss, while I personally do the mixing part),” he said.
The 60-year-old Longakit said he sources his ice cream from an ice cream factory located in C. Padilla Street, Cebu City.
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