AVALIAÇÃO DOS HÁBITOS HIGIÊNICO-SANITÁRIOS NA MANIPULAÇÃO DE ALIMENTOS POR CONSUMIDORES DE NOSSA SENHORA DA GLÓRIA – SERGIPE

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 600 million foodborne illnesses occur annually. Many of these illnesses are associated with incorrect food safety and handling practices in the industrial or residential environment. And although consumers show concern with food safety, statistics show that during the purchase, handling, and storage of food, the necessary precautions to protect health are not noticed. In addition, aspects related to food hygiene and conservation, especially in the domestic environment, are often underreported and underreported in the literature. Still, they are no less important for public health since about 37% of DTA's in recent years registered in Brazil occurred in the domestic environment, evaluate habitshygienic-sanitary in food handling by consumers of Nossa Senhora da Glória – Sergipe. Interviews were conducted with 155 consumers aged between 18 and 74 through an online questionnaire carried out by the Google forms platform. The survey results indicated that around 70% of consumers interviewed in Nossa Senhora Glória (SE) demonstrated inadequate practices and care about hygiene, handling, and preservation of food in the home environment, especially concerning the hygiene of the food packaging surface. Therefore, disseminating knowledge about the importance of Good Handling Practices in the home environment and determining educational actions are essential for consumers to change their habits and perceptions about hygiene and food safety. Key words: food safety, sanitation, food preservation.