Local street food vendors have, since last Thursday, been wracked with concern that a viral video that resulted in the shutdown of popular spot, Crab Circle, in Kingston, could change the general image and reputation of the industry.

 

The video, which showed one of the vendors at Crab Circle engaged in an unsanitary act, resulted in the Kingston and St Andrew Health Department temporarily closing down the site and having it sanitised.

 

 

 

Since the incident, the offending vendor, Alice Wugh, has sought to explain that she had an episode of diarrhoea after drinking a beer. This, she said, caused her to lose control of her bowels leaving her with no choice but to relieve herself at the spot where she also prepares meals for the public’s consumption.

 

The incident, she added, was necessitated by the absence of bathroom facilities at the location.

 

The future of Crab Circle is now in question as many believe the vendors will be unable to attract the large volume of customers they once did.

 

Since the video’s release and throughout the weekend, there has been widespread outrage and condemnation as well as numerous memes and declarations from Jamaicans that they will never eat from street food vendors again.