Food Handling Practice of Culinary Merchants in Medan, Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) estimates that over 20 million incidences of poisoning occur yearly in Indonesia. In 2019, food poisoning was the cause of 17 out of 154 poisoning incidents in Medan. This study aims to picturize food safety practice among food handlers at culinary merchants. Using a descriptive, cross-sectional study, a total of 52 samples were given a survey with a total of 35 questions regarding characteristic of samples, food safety knowledge, food management attitude, and food management practice. The data collected were 73,1 % the food-handlers had average knowledge level of food safety, 92.3% had a good attitude in food management, 53,8% had average level of food management practice, and 51.9% had a good behavior in food management. There are still chances for cross contamination to occurs. In order to ensure the safety of sold products, food handling training and rules should be prioritized and advocated.