Street food consumption and consumer perceptions of food safety in a Mediterranean tourist destination: insights from behavioral and seasonal analyses

Street food plays a central role in urban food systems, especially in informal and tourism-driven settings where regulatory oversight is limited. While prior research has examined perceived food safety and street food consumption, how these factors jointly relate to consumer behavior remains incompletely understood. This study examines street food consumption patterns and the roles of perceived vendor hygiene and food safety in shaping consumer behavior. The findings are discussed in the context of existing behavioral theories related to risk perception and health-related decision-making. A cross-sectional survey ( n = 517) was conducted across two seasons in a Mediterranean tourist city, and binary and ordinal logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the effects of demographics, perceived hygiene, and risk perception on consumption patterns. Street food consumption was high (78.5%) and varied seasonally. Positive perceptions of vendor hygiene, largely based on visible cues, were associated with street food consumption, whereas food safety concerns were associated with a lower likelihood of consumption. These findings provide insights into consumer behavior in informal food systems and highlight the importance of visible hygiene practices and effective food safety communication in tourism-oriented street food environments.