Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of restaurant food handlers in a lower‐middle‐income country
Abstract Global research attention appears to be focused predominantly on self‐reported than observed food safety practices. The purpose of this study was to determine the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and self‐reported and observed practices of food handlers in 22 urban restaurants in Zimbabwe....
Main Authors: | , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2020-03-01
|
Series: | Food Science & Nutrition |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.1454 |
id |
doaj-519b491370eb466e8f1592c8d66882d2 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-519b491370eb466e8f1592c8d66882d22020-11-25T02:15:37ZengWileyFood Science & Nutrition2048-71772020-03-01831677168710.1002/fsn3.1454Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of restaurant food handlers in a lower‐middle‐income countryFrance Ncube0Artwell Kanda1Morleen Chijokwe2Goden Mabaya3Tendayi Nyamugure4Department of Environmental Science Bindura University of Science Education Bindura ZimbabweDepartment of Environmental Science Bindura University of Science Education Bindura ZimbabweDepartment of Environmental Science Bindura University of Science Education Bindura ZimbabweDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Education and Extension Bindura University of Science Education Bindura ZimbabweDepartment of Environmental Science Bindura University of Science Education Bindura ZimbabweAbstract Global research attention appears to be focused predominantly on self‐reported than observed food safety practices. The purpose of this study was to determine the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and self‐reported and observed practices of food handlers in 22 urban restaurants in Zimbabwe. A piloted questionnaire was used to gather qualitative data regarding socio‐demographic variables, food safety knowledge (FSK), attitudes, and self‐reported food handling practices (SRFHPs). A predesigned checklist was used to observe the food handling practices. FSK scores were significantly higher in food handlers who received basic food safety training compared to those who did not (p < .05). No differences in food safety knowledge and attitudes were noted based on the socio‐demographic characteristics of the food handlers (p > .05). A significant positive correlation was observed between FSK and attitudes (rs = 0.371, p < .05), FSK and SRFHPs (rs = 0.242, p < 0.05), FSK and observed food handling practices (OFHPs) (rs = 0.254, p < .05), attitudes and SRFPs (rs = 0.229, p < .05), and attitudes and OFHPs (rs = 0.263, p < .05). About half of the food handlers washed their hands in sinks meant for washing cutlery, 57% did not use approved hand drying methods, and 19.8% did not adequately thaw frozen foods. Food was commonly defrosted either under room temperature or using hot water (>45°C). Results suggest a need for mandatory basic and advanced training to improve the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices.https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.1454Attitudesfood handlerfood safety knowledgepracticesrestaurant |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
France Ncube Artwell Kanda Morleen Chijokwe Goden Mabaya Tendayi Nyamugure |
spellingShingle |
France Ncube Artwell Kanda Morleen Chijokwe Goden Mabaya Tendayi Nyamugure Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of restaurant food handlers in a lower‐middle‐income country Food Science & Nutrition Attitudes food handler food safety knowledge practices restaurant |
author_facet |
France Ncube Artwell Kanda Morleen Chijokwe Goden Mabaya Tendayi Nyamugure |
author_sort |
France Ncube |
title |
Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of restaurant food handlers in a lower‐middle‐income country |
title_short |
Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of restaurant food handlers in a lower‐middle‐income country |
title_full |
Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of restaurant food handlers in a lower‐middle‐income country |
title_fullStr |
Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of restaurant food handlers in a lower‐middle‐income country |
title_full_unstemmed |
Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of restaurant food handlers in a lower‐middle‐income country |
title_sort |
food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of restaurant food handlers in a lower‐middle‐income country |
publisher |
Wiley |
series |
Food Science & Nutrition |
issn |
2048-7177 |
publishDate |
2020-03-01 |
description |
Abstract Global research attention appears to be focused predominantly on self‐reported than observed food safety practices. The purpose of this study was to determine the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and self‐reported and observed practices of food handlers in 22 urban restaurants in Zimbabwe. A piloted questionnaire was used to gather qualitative data regarding socio‐demographic variables, food safety knowledge (FSK), attitudes, and self‐reported food handling practices (SRFHPs). A predesigned checklist was used to observe the food handling practices. FSK scores were significantly higher in food handlers who received basic food safety training compared to those who did not (p < .05). No differences in food safety knowledge and attitudes were noted based on the socio‐demographic characteristics of the food handlers (p > .05). A significant positive correlation was observed between FSK and attitudes (rs = 0.371, p < .05), FSK and SRFHPs (rs = 0.242, p < 0.05), FSK and observed food handling practices (OFHPs) (rs = 0.254, p < .05), attitudes and SRFPs (rs = 0.229, p < .05), and attitudes and OFHPs (rs = 0.263, p < .05). About half of the food handlers washed their hands in sinks meant for washing cutlery, 57% did not use approved hand drying methods, and 19.8% did not adequately thaw frozen foods. Food was commonly defrosted either under room temperature or using hot water (>45°C). Results suggest a need for mandatory basic and advanced training to improve the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices. |
topic |
Attitudes food handler food safety knowledge practices restaurant |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.1454 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT francencube foodsafetyknowledgeattitudesandpracticesofrestaurantfoodhandlersinalowermiddleincomecountry AT artwellkanda foodsafetyknowledgeattitudesandpracticesofrestaurantfoodhandlersinalowermiddleincomecountry AT morleenchijokwe foodsafetyknowledgeattitudesandpracticesofrestaurantfoodhandlersinalowermiddleincomecountry AT godenmabaya foodsafetyknowledgeattitudesandpracticesofrestaurantfoodhandlersinalowermiddleincomecountry AT tendayinyamugure foodsafetyknowledgeattitudesandpracticesofrestaurantfoodhandlersinalowermiddleincomecountry |
_version_ |
1724895108211408896 |