Chapter 7 - Food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices among food handlers in foodservice establishments in the Arab countries of the Middle East

Abstract

Foodborne diseases continue to be a global health issue often transmitted within the foodservice settings due to inappropriate food handling. The Arab countries have witnessed in the last decades a drastic change in their lifestyles and eating habits. With continuous growth in the foodservice industry, eating out and relying on food delivery has become a trend. To ensure serving consumers safe food, food handlers’ knowledge of food safety and intentions to comply with the regulatory requirements are essential key factors that improve food safety practices. This chapter will present the current findings on food handlers’ food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices in the foodservice establishments in the Arab countries. It will also draw an overview of the prevalent shortfalls and common trends to identify research needs and suggest the way forward.