Many street food vendors seem to go long periods of time without washing their hands, cooking utensils, or plates.

The simple fact of the matter is that street food is being prepared in a generally uncontrolled and unhygienic environment. Cases of food poisoning rise during the heat, humidity, and standing water contribute to foster the growth of a number of nasty organisms and insect swarms. Meats and even vegetables and other ingredients which are sitting outside and unprotected for long periods of time can become contaminated.

There’s also the matter of where your food or its preparatory materials came from. How old is the chicken meat that’s going into your momos? Was the kebab you ate sitting around in a truck or warehouse all day, or was it sliced from a chicken slaughtered in the morning? You never know, unless you’re very familiar with the venue you’ve chosen.

Another big area of concern is water. It might taste amazing, but the water could have come from an unfiltered tap. Perhaps you’ll be keeling over on the toilet the next day.