“I Walk around Like My Hands are Covered in Mud”: Food Safety and Hand Hygiene Behaviors of Canadians during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected consumers' food handling behaviors. We conducted a qualitative research study to investigate how and why Canadians engaged in different food handling and hand hygiene behaviors at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Online, text-based focus groups were conducted following a semistructured question guide in May and June 2020. A thematic analysis was conducted using the Theoretical Domains Framework as a coding guide. A total of 42 consumers participated across seven focus groups. The most notable changes in behaviors were seen in participants' hand washing, sanitation, and grocery shopping practices. Participants tended to perceive grocery store employees, shoppers, and foodservice staff as having inadequate sanitation precautions and therefore as a source of COVID-19 transmission risk. They heavily relied on public health, medical, and government officials as sources of information. Feelings of stress and anxiety appeared to be linked to certain sanitation behaviors. Many participants displayed a general apathy toward routine food safety practices, such as safe food storage at home. This research supports the need for clear and concise messaging for safe food handling during the COVID-19 pandemic and in future times of crisis.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food safety inspection outcomes in Toronto, Canada: a Bayesian interrupted time series analysis

“…This increase in food safety outcomes is likely due to the enhanced hygiene, cleaning, sanitation, and other precautions implemented in restaurants and take-out facilities to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Surveys and focus groups conducted with the general public in the initial months of the pandemic found an overall increased adoption of hand hygiene (e.g., handwashing, sanitizer use) and other cleaning and sanitation practices [27,28]. It is likely that these practices were also enhanced among restaurant and take-out facility management and 11 staff due to personal concerns about COVID-19 and government requirements for infection control [29].…”

“I Can Sense When My Hands Need Washing”: A Qualitative Study and Thematic Analysis of Factors Affecting Young Adults’ Hand Hygiene

“… 23 , 35 - 38 Additionally, some qualitative researchers have also investigated hand hygiene practices in other groups besides young adults. 39 , 40 However, there is a need to explore drivers of hand hygiene practices among young adults aged 18 to 25 years and provide a snapshot of current barriers to handwashing. This investigation may provide clues to developing tailored health messages and behavior change interventions among this group of adults.…”