Foodservice Quality: Identifying Perception Indicators of Foodservice Quality for Hospitality Students

This study uses an expert perspective to identify indicators of foodservice quality as perceived by hospitality students. A 3-round modified Delphi method and an expert panel comprising culinary arts instructors, master chefs with >10 years of experience, and senior foodservice industry executive managers were used to define and identify these indicators. The developed foodservice quality framework includes 2 categories, the product and customer, which comprise 57 indicators in 6 dimensions. The results of this study provide a clear direction for further studies and applications for hospitality professionals, educators, and students.

Level of Knowledge and Compliance of Mexican Food Code among Hospital Foodservice Employees in Guadalajara, México

Contamination of food may occur at any point during the food distribution channel. However, mishandling of food at the last segment of food distribution where food is prepared for consumption often causes outbreaks. Keeping food safe in hospitals is particularly imperative because of the population they serve and the potentially hazardous environment. This article presents the results of a pencil and paper self-reported survey on the knowledge of Mexican food code, NOM-093-SSA1-1994, and field observation of the compliance of the code among the hospital foodservice employees in Guadalajara, México. One hundred twenty-seven employees from six public and private hospitals participated in the study. Of the respondents, 81.5% were aware of the importance of personal hygiene in food safety. Professional attire including hair restraints and mouth cover were always used. These participants, however seldom used thermometers, and only 37% of respondents knew the correct temperatures for refrigeration. In most hospitals correct procedures for sanitizing food contact surfaces that were prescribed by the sanitizing chemical manufacturers were practiced. Only 25% of the participants knew that their work was defined by the food code. Strategies for dissemination of the food code, and food safety training of the employees are urgently needed. Commitment and support of the hospital are needed in order to improve safe food handling practices in these hospitals.

Efficacy of Cooling Beef Taco Meat and Steamed Rice in United States School Foodservice Operations

Food is frequently cooked, cooled and reheated for service at a later time in schools and other foodservice operations in the United States [US]. Inadequate cooling of food has been associated with foodborne illness. The purpose of this study was to determine if practices commonly used in school foodservice to cool beef taco meat and steamed rice would meet US Food and Drug Administration [FDA] 2009 Food Code standards. Prepared products cooled at 5.08 cm and 7.62 cm depths in stainless steel counter pans were placed uncovered in a walk-in refrigerator, a walk-in freezer (beef taco meat only), and a walk-in refrigerator with an ice water bath. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean times and temperatures, with standard deviations. Cooling beef taco meat in a walk-in freezer at a depth of two inches and cooling steamed rice in a walk-in refrigerator at a depth of two inches with an ice water bath were the only methods that met both FDA Food Code time and temperature standards. Results suggest that challenges and risks exist with common methods used to cool food, especially if food volume is not reduced before cooling. Specific protocols for cooling procedures based on types of food and equipment are needed. These findings and recommendations are important for foodservice professionals who oversee food services and cooling practices in schools and other operations.

The Potential of Foodservice Operations at Visitor Attractions in Ghana

The success of a tourist attraction embeds in the provision of foodservice facilities that has the potential to offer the visitor experiences demanded at the sites. In an attempt to explore the relationships between visitor attractions and foodservice in Ghana, this paper provides evidences from an investigation conducted at six selected visitor attractions at various destinations. Due to the paucity of published data on the concept under investigation, this study included two phases： qualitative followed up with a quantitative research. However, the second one, which was based on a survey involving international and domestic visitors （528）, is the main focus of this paper. The information gathered in phase one informed the design for the visitors＇ survey, whose data were analyzed through the Statistical Product and Service Solutions （SPSS）. Findings from the study showed a high demand for foodservices at all attractions. Collaborations among formally trained staff and informal or traditional foodservice outlets to develop local cuisines at visitor attractions offer the potential to positively support the tourism industry in Ghana as well as those of other African countries seeking to develop the tourism sectors of their economies. This paper may also be of interest to the relevant and international bodies such as UNWTO, UNDP, and UNEP who seek to promote the development of sustainable practices.

Is It Competent Enough for Handling Foodservice Quality？ From the Students＇ Viewpoint of Self-perceived Competence and the Contribution of Hospitality Course

This study evaluated the self-perceived importance and competence with regard to foodservice quality of hospitality students in Taiwan. The study used a 6-dimension food quality scale to gather self-assessed data from student participants. A total of 400 questionnaires were sent out, with 355 （88.75%） returned, validated, and used in research. In the dimension of perceived importance, participants placed the highest importance on ＂food safety＂ and the lowest importance on ＂food characteristics＂. In the dimension of competence, participants placed the highest competence on ＂service quality＂, while the competence concerning ＂culinary skill＂ was lower. An importance-performance analysis （IPA） identified ＂food safety＂ as showing the greatest be improved among the six dimensions. The courses and internship experience predicted 26.4% of the variability in perceived competence of foodservice quality. Both the two variables showed a statistical significance. The culinary courses had a greater impact on food quality-related perceptions than did either hospitality professional or general management courses. Finally, this study identified that the school courses had a positive contribution to the competence of foodservice quality and with hospitality students who completed school courses having better quality perception competence than those who had not.

Sodium and health: New proposal of distribution for major meals

Sodium ingestion in regular diet exceeds individuals’ physiological needs, and it is etiologically related to various diseases. Studies estimate that the worldwide average individual intake of sodium reaches almost double the maximum limit of ingestion for the day only in the main meals: lunch and dinner. Culturally, sodium is highly used in meals to enhance the flavor of preparations. Then, the purposes of this research are to evaluate sodium use in meals prepared in Popular Brazilian Restaurants and to suggest the distribution of sodium for each kind of preparation of major meals. This is an exploratory cross-sectional research based on direct documentation subdivided in six steps: determination of samples of foodservices and menus;development of the technical preparation files offered in the menus;determination of the weight of average portions offered;determination of the average amount of sodium in the portions offered;estimation of sodium distribution regarding two parameters;and determination of the sodium distribution among preparations of major meals by the two proposed parameters. For results’ analysis, portions were calculated as well as the mean contribution of the preparation in the plate weight in percentage and the mean sodium contribution. Standard deviation is also presented. We verified through the study the possibility of using the distribution of sodium by two parameters: the first one considers the ratio of components’ weight in the menu in relation to the total weight of the meal;the second one considers the distribution of sodium in preparations in relation to the total amount of sodium in the meal. We expect the results of this research to improve menu planning in restaurants as to fulfill the actual clients’ needs in order to prevent diseases.