Relationship between Food Hygiene Education Experience and Food Purchasing Behavior, Knowledge, and Practices

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of food safety awareness, purchasing behavior, food safety knowledge, and food safety practice in accordance with food hygiene education experiences in adults.Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was answered by 305 adults in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions.Chi-square test, independent t-test, and multiple regression analysis were performed to evaluate the association between food hygiene education experience and related factors.Results: The need for information was found to be significantly higher for the group with experience in food hygiene education. As for purchasing behavior, participants mainly considered price, taste, and safety of food, and frequently confirmed the expiration date and price using food labels. Participants considered major supermarkets and convenience stores as safe places to purchase food. Food hygiene knowledge showed significantly higher correct answer rates in almost all items for the group with education experience. Even if the expiration date had not yet been reached the habit of not eating food if there was a strange smell when opened was practiced, and the group with more educational experience practiced this significantly more often.Participants with higher awareness of food hygiene showed significantly greater intention to participate in food hygiene education.Conclusions: The group with experience in food hygiene education showed a greater need to obtain information on food hygiene and had better knowledge and practices regarding food hygiene. Therefore, food hygiene education and information are necessary to ensure the safety of food hygiene and to promote the health of the people.