Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Food Safety and Its Effects on Human Health in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Food safety is ultimate human right for the survival of human life. Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are at the risk of risk of consuming contaminated food. Every year, millions of people become ill, and hundreds of thousands die due to underprivileged safety of food. Microbial, chemical, personal and environmental hygiene are all challenges for food from farm to fork/plate. The current study was conducted in Punjab province to investigate to assess peoples’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding food safety at domestic level, as well as potential health hazards due to insufficient food safety practices. Sample of 700 women in three districts in Pakistan's Punjab province: Hafizabad, Rawalpindi, and Multan were selected. For analyzing the quantitative data we utilized, bivariate analysis techniques. Specifically, we employed the Chi-square test to assess the degree of significance. Additionally, researcher used the Somers'd and Gamma tests to determine the strength of association. The major findings reveal a strong link between all socioeconomic and cultural variables (i.e. monthly income, education, food preparation at home, food management at home, consumption behavior, willingness to buy, risk perception, influence of media and health effects) and women's attitudes toward acquiring knowledge and practicing food safety to maintain their health. The public was concerned about food safety and handling standards. It was discovered that television could be effective tool for disseminating information about food safety to the general public. The frequency of food preparation at home also contributes to shaping attitudes, with more frequent home preparation leading to more favorable views on food safety practices.