Food Hygiene and Safety Practices amongst Food Vendors in the Western Area, Sierra Leone

Food safety and hygiene practices require a multisectoral approach including food, water, sanitation, waste management, transport, education, trade, policies and programs that enable safe food preparation, storage and service. Unsafe food can cause illness keeping people from achieving their full potential and death. This was a descriptive study that uses a mixed method approach to derive insights into the characteristics of food vendors related to demography, knowledge, practices, infrastructure, compliance and recommendation for a policymaking framework. Using the Lemeshows’ sample size formula, 473 vendors from formal (restaurants) and informal (cookri-baffa/table top) sites were interviewed and observed. We found from discussions that respondents had a good understanding on how to keep food safe. However, observed practices were poor 93% handled food with their bare hands, 83% did not cover their hair, and 76% did not wear an apron whilst handling, preparing or serving food, 61% did not keep their finger nails clean or short and 57% did not wash their hand before preparing or serving food. Over half (51%) had access to a toilet but 32% reported their use required payment and emphasized their poor condition/inadequate management. Nearly half (47%) of the vending sites did not have a handwashing facility, with soap and water available. Only 7% reported having any authority oversight of food safety. Food safety and hygiene practices in most cookri shops and restaurants was ‘poor’ with very limited surveillance system in place by competent authorities for compliance of food operators. Hand washing, clean surroundings, and covered food were the most common and emphasized practices to mitigate the risks associated with unsafe food.

Effect of Food Safety Training on Achieving Good Hygiene Practices in Restaurants in the Emirates of Dubai

Food safety,specifically in restaurants,is becoming a key public health priority because of the increased number of meals eaten outside the home.Foodborne illness prevention thus is a significant concern and a public health priority in the United Arab Emirates,particularly Dubai,because of the extensive tourism industry.The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using demonstrations in training sessions to improve food safety knowledge and practices amongst food handlers.A descriptive and quantitative approach has been applied to collect the quantifiable information related to the research study.This has been further analyzed using the correlation tests to gather the required data.On comparison of the pre-test scores between the intervention and the control group,the t-test analysis showed significant difference in the level of food safety knowledge between the two groups.Pre-test score for the control group was 78.33 and post-test score was 104.66.In the case of the intervention group,pre-test score was 91.37 and post-test score was 130.75.The scores of food handlers’food safety practice for control group:pre-treatment score was 470 and post-treatment score was 646.For intervention group:pre-test score was 723 and post-test score was 1,056.The study concluded that training with demonstration techniques is an effective way of improving compliance with food safety guidelines.It has been understood that training helps in improving the performance of the employees while reducing the foodborne diseases and maintaining hygiene in the food.The study recommends every restaurant needs to provide regular trainings to the employees so that the restaurants can maintain hygiene and food safety practices.

Fruit Juice Production in Abomey-Calavi and Cotonou Municipalities (Benin): Socio-Professional Profile of Actors and Adoption Level of Hygienic Practices of Enterprises

Fruit juice production sector is developing in Benin’s major cities and appears to have both organisational and technical shortcomings. This study aimed to 1) establish the socio-professional profile of actors in the fruit juice production sector in Abomey-Calavi and Cotonou municipalities and 2) evaluate the adoption level of hygienic practices of enterprises. The methodological approach adopted in this study combined a semi-structured survey with direct observations in fifty enterprises. The statistical analysis was carried out using the R.4.0.0 software. The study revealed that fruit juice enterprises in both municipalities are mainly artisanal (90%) and located in residential areas (94%). They are therefore exposed to contamination risks from domestic and road activities. More than half of these enterprises were created less than five years ago. Three administrative types of enterprises were noted: non-structured (32%), semi-structured (34%) and structured (34%). Almost half of the enterprises belong to at least one professional association. Only a few enterprises have marketing authorization. Women predominate in the positions of director and production assistant. The majority of production managers are men. Most directors and production managers have a university education, but not necessarily in the field of food sciences. The adoption level of hygienic practices is significantly influenced by the level of enterprises structuration and size. The level of hygiene in these enterprises is also very weakly influenced by the female gender. Structured and semi-industrial enterprises have a higher adoption level of hygienic practices. Those with acceptable or good hygiene level enterprises contain slightly more women.