Food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices among online food delivery services during COVID-19 pandemic in Jabodetabek area, Indonesia

Abstract

The coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in some countries including Indonesia, has changed consumer behavior in accessing their food from direct buying from food services (i.e. food groceries, restaurants, cafes) to online buying by using an application from their smartphone. By using online food delivery services, knowledge, attitude, and practices of food handlers (FH) and food delivery workers (FDW) contributed to food safety. This study aimed to predict the food safety practices of FH and FDW by conducting a survey on their knowledge and attitude on food safety in Jakarta-Bogor-Depok-TangerangBekasi (Jabodetabek) area, Indonesia. The FDW were from Gofood, Grabfood, Shopeefood, and Kulina. The questionnaire was distributed via social media, ecommerce sites, and messenger applications to 675 respondents. The survey contained 36 questions and the data were analyzed by using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique. This study revealed that knowledge (β = 0.311 for FH; β = 0.136 for FDW; p < 0.05) and attitude (β = 0.417 for FH; β = 0.342 for FDW; p < 0.05) were positively correlated to good food safety practices. The study also indicated that attitude was the main variable in predicting the practices of FH and FDW. Overall, the structural model for FH has a better prediction (R² = 0.374) than that for FDW (R² = 0.165). There were gaps in food safety practices between FH and FDW that could contribute to achieving safe foods. Comprehensive knowledge through food safety campaigns, food safety training, and food safety culture for FH and especially FDW could be a strategy to strengthen food safety.