Food Safety is an important concern for public health worldwide, particularly because vermin infestation can facilitate the transmission of foodborne diseases (FBDs). While informal markets are essential for economic livelihoods, they are often characterised by inadequate infrastructure and weak regulatory oversight, exacerbating food safety risks as compared to formal establishments. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of vermin infestation and practices between the formal and informal food outlets in Mutare City, Zimbabwe. A comparative cross sectional study was used employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected from 248 food outlets (211 formal and 37 informal) using a structured questionnaire and observational checklist. Analysis was done using IBM SPSS Version 27, involving descriptive statistics, tests of association, and thematic analysis of qualitative data. The study revealed a statistically significant higher prevalence of vermin infestation in informal food outlets (p=0.006). Vermin were observed in 60.9% of all sampled outlets and infestations were most prevalent in grocery shops, butcheries and takeaways. Cockroaches were the most dominant vermin (35.1%) across both sectors, followed by rodents (31.5%) and flies (27.0%). Formal outlets were significantly more likely to cover food(p=0.048), yet contrary to expectations informal outlets reported more frequent cleaning of food preparation areas. Key challenges identified included rapid urbanisation, lack of training, inadequate pest control infrastructure and limited municipal prioritisation of pest management. The study highlights urgent consideration for food outlet category targeted public health interventions including mandatory short course trainings, subsidised waste management services and technologies, and strengthening regulatory enforcement to mitigate foodborne disease risks in Mutare City.

Key Words: Formal, Informal, Infestation, Prevalence, Mutare City, Zimbabwe.