Critical Analysis of the practices of shop food handlers regarding safety and hygiene: Case study in Paranaque City

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the knowledge, attitude, and practices of food handlers in milk tea shops inParanaque, Philippines, and identify areas for enhancing food safety and hygiene practices. A mixed-method approach was employed, with data gathered through a survey questionnaire and interviews with 100 milk tea shop food handlers. The study revealed that most food handlers (70%) were aged between 21 and 25 years old, with 92.9% female and 91.4% holding a college degree. Additionally, 85% of the respondents had prior experience in the food and beverage industry. However, only 57 outof the 100 respondents had registered their businesses. The food handlers demonstrated goodknowledge about food safety and sanitation, but some needed knowledge about proper food holding practices. Most food handlers had a positive attitude towards customers and food handling, but they needed to be more enthusiastic about securing business requirements due to perceived difficulties andexpenses. While 30% of the respondents emphasized the importance of avoiding cross-contaminationand 24% highlighted customer safety, only 44% had received formal training in proper food handling.The reasons for training included improving knowledge in food safety and hygiene practices (36%) and preventing foodborne illnesses and cross-contamination (18%).In terms of practices, the respondents needed better practices in storing, cooking, and cooling tapioca pearls, and often (4.05)mixed raw materials thoroughly using a shaker before serving due to limited staff and high pressure from customers to be served immediately. The study identified several challenges milk tea shop ownersface, including limited staff, space, cleanliness maintenance, and regulatory compliance complexities.These findings underscore the need for targeted training, operational support, and regulatory assistance to enhance food safety and operational efficiency in the milk tea industry.