Isaw, betamax, and barbecue are popular street foods among Filipinos. Sold almost everywhere, from local communities, marketplaces, to sidewalks, they have been local favorites for decades. However, experts warn the public to be cautious of these delicacies, as diseases may arise from eating them.
According to microbiologist Dr. Windell Rivera, raw meat and poultry, the most common ingredients of grilled street food, can easily be contaminated by various bacteria.
"Poultry product ito, chicken, tinabihan mo ng pork, normally these would contain Salmonella, Listeria, lalo na kung hindi properly cooked yung mga meat products (Poultry and pork products may contain Salmonella, Listeria especially if these products are not thoroughly cooked)."
Experts say Salmonella and Listeria are bacteria known to cause gastro-intestinal infections causing fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or nausea.
Rivera also said cross contamination of these disease-causing bacteria can occur while food is being cooked on the grill.
"Syempre madali yung contamination lalo na kung magkakatabi sila sa isang grilling apparatus, madali yung cross contamination (Cross contamination of bacteria can easily occur since these foods are cooked together on a grilling apparatus)."
Rivera added some bacteria may produce toxins.
"Normally ang shigella, nagproproduce ng toxin at ang manifestation nito palagi ay yung gastro intestinal disorder (Shigella normally produces toxins and may manifest as internal disorder among humans)," he said. Shigella infection can result to diarrhea with bloody stools.
According to Rivera, some cases could lead to Hepatitis A, or even kidney failure.
Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease which may cause mild to severe fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, or jaundice, yellowing of the skin and the white areas of the eyes. Although rarely fatal, the disease does not have a specific medicine. But experts say no treatment may be required unless the person suffers extreme dehy
