A Cross-Sectional Study to Asses Knowledge and Food Hygiene Practices among Food Handlers in Food Establishments

Abstract

Introduction: Food safety is one of the important issue in public. Food handlers with poor personal hygiene and lack of awareness of important issues in preventing food borne diseases, working in food establishments could be potential sources of infections of many intestinal helminthes of protozoa and estrogenic pathogens. Aims: The objective of the study was to procure information about various food handling practices and spread awareness about the prevention of food borne diseases. Methods: An organization based cross-sectional study. All the food handlers in given area like sevlal, Morrapur, Thanda, Baddenpally, Ankusapur and Narsimbulapally were contacted. A total of 172 food handlers in food establishments were interviewed within the stipulated time. The required data is obtained by per designed questionnaire method; the data collection involves the following criteria– Food handling practices, environmental and personal hygiene, knowledge of food hygiene and safety and also their attitude,measures taken for controlling and preventing of food borne illnesses, incidence of food borne diseases. Proportions and Chi square test were used for analysis of the data. Results: This Study found that maximum food handlers were not certified in food training i.e. 82.5%, 27.9% of food handlers reported that they heard about food borne diseases. Study found that food can be a source of infection if not handled properly. Awareness or knowledge was better in females 36.8% compared to males 25.3%. The Majority of food handlers acquired that knowledge through mass media. Study found overall the attitude of food handlers towards handling of food was satisfactory. In the present study, all practices related to food hygiene were very well followed by majority of the food handlers in the study. Conclusions: The overall knowledge, attitude and practices of the food handlers were very good and above the average