Empowering Women Street Food Vendors Through M-Technology: A Study In Penang, Malaysia

Abstract

This study was aimed to gauge the food safety and hygiene practices of women street food vendors. The purpose of this study is to understand food safety and hygiene practices and to gain insight knowledge on personal hygiene, food handling, food cooking and food packaging practices among women street food vendors. This study was done in selected urban areas in the mainland of Penang. Qualitative approach of was adopted to collect data. Non-probability sampling technique of convenient sampling was employed in this study. Thirty-five (35) women street food vendors were interviewed. An in-depth interview with 15 interview questions were used to record the responses of the participants. Observation approach was conducted to assess on food preparation, cooking and service while selling their foods and beverages. The findings revealed that a majority of the vendors (94.3%) were not registered or licensed as food business operators. Only 5.7% of street food vendors attended at least one food safety training. The study found that women street food vendors don’t possess formal training on food safety and hygiene practices in food preparation, handling and storage. The study concluded with suggestions of mobile-technology training application development to enhance street food vendor’s compliance to food safety and hygiene practices.