Salesmen are rich, traditional characters on Rio's beaches, offering an assortment of alluring produce, whilst illuminating the stratified social landscape and importance of trade for the city. the distribution of food on the beach is now being more closely regulated by the city, in part due to more stringent health standards and regulations.

in general, the food sold by vendors is safe, however special caution should be used in buying uncooked fish such as the very appetizing shrimp-skewers that occasionally are sold along the water. for as nice and inviting as they can be, several allergic reactions have been reported by foreigners not used to them.