Background: Low cost public meals  were provided by street food vendors and usually characterized by poor  hygienic circumstances. Defect in food preparation or storage can lead to food poisoning or illness results from different microorganisms or chemical toxins. The aim of this study is to explore the food vendors knowledge regarding sanitary environment of street food preparation in Tikrit city  

Subjects and method: Cross-sectional study conducted in Tikrit city from 11 November 2021 to 15 March 2022. The study sample enrolled about 220 food vendors in Tikrit city chosen by convenient sampling technique mainly from Al-Zhoor and Al-Arbaeen Streets in Tikrit city. Data obtained from questionnaire and checklist are analyzed manually and by statistical tests. Knowledge score and hygiene assessment score range between (1-1.49) for good knowledge and hygiene (yes) and (1.5-2) for not. Approval of the college and the Family- Community medicine department to collect data and complete the research verbal consent from venders was carried. Results: The results showed that most vendor’s age between 26 and 30 years 65 (29.6%), and 202(91.8%) of vendors lived in urban area. Current study found that 106 (48.1%) of street food vendors have low socioeconomic status. About 95.4% of the vendors thought that hand washing important before meals preparation but 14(6.3%) didn't believe that protective thing for example hand gloves, face mask and head caps are important points to maintain food hygiene. Most of the food vendors 197 (89.5%) had enough knowledge about food safety and only 23 (10.5%) had insufficient knowledge. Conclusions: Most of Street food vendors had good knowledge about hygienic preparation and maintenance of safe food but they didn't practiced this knowledge during their work.

Keywords : Food Vendors ;   Food Safety ; Sanitary Conditions ;  Tikrit City