Informational Shocks and Street-Food Safety: A Field Study in Urban India

Abstract We investigate whether improvements in street-food safety can be achieved by providing information to vendors the form of a training. Among randomly assigned Kolkata, India, we find large knowledge and awareness but little change observed behavior. provide two main explanations for these findings. First, acquisition itself does not make it significantly easier customers with safer food options. Second, although consumers have positive willingness pay perceived hygiene, they struggle distinguish between safe contaminated food. recommend policies targeting supply-side constraints consumers' awareness.