Knowledge on Food Safety and Food-Handling Practices of Street Food Vendors in Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

Street foods have become a major source of cooked food for most households and individuals in many developing countries including Ghana. However, the rising concern about food-borne illness has questioned the knowledge of the street food vendors to constitute safety practices for food handling. This study assessed the knowledge of street food vendors on food safety and food-handling practices in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of Ghana. The study used a cross-sectional mixed approach involving 340 participants selected by simple random sampling. A structured questionnaire and an observational checklist were used to collect data and analyzed using STATA version 12. The results indicated that 98.8% of the food vendors had good knowledge on food safety and handling. The knowledge on food safety was associated with training (p value ≤0.011), license status (p value ≤0.002), marital status (p value <0.001), and religion (p value ≤0.038). Good food-handling practices were associated with training (p value ≤0. 001) and license (p value ≤0.002) and not their educational levels. The study found training of food vendors as the most effective way to increase knowledge on food safety and enhance food-handling practices. The study recommended for collaborations of municipal assemblies with other agencies to strengthen, sustain, and organize regular training programs for new entrants and existing food vendors as well as retraining of trainers to equip them adequately with knowledge and skills to enable them effectively facilitate training programs for food vendors.

Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of street food vendors in Jashore region, Bangladesh

“…We found that only the degree of education had a positive effect on their general practice of hygiene. On the contrary, a comparable study in Ghana reported that the food safety practice was not associated with the safety knowledge and education level of the vendors (Addo-Tham et al, 2020). We found that monthly income wasn't significant to their food safety and hygiene practice.…”

“…In slum areas, vendors had the worst food safety scores compared to those of urban and rural areas. The current study found that the majority of the vendors were less educated, maybe like other developing countries where educated individuals seek jobs in the capital city (Addo-Tham et al, 2020). However, with the increase in education level of the vendors, their food safety attitude improved.…”

“…SF is an age-old practice and earning source of income in several countries (Cortese et al, 2016). Worldwide increase of unemployment and poverty are the key factors behind people tend to run street food businesses, because it requires minimal experience and capital to set up (Addo-Tham et al, 2020;King et al, 2000). It plays a vital socio-economic role by providing food and nutritional supports to the lower and middle-income people at a reasonably low price and is valued for the unique taste of its food items (Khairuzzaman et al, 2014).…”

Bacterial Contaminants and Antibiogram of Ghana Paper Currency Notes in Circulation and Their Associated Health Risks in Asante-Mampong, Ghana

“…Infections with pathogens via fecal-oral route from fomites are rampant [ 37 ]. There is, however, poor adherence to effective hand washing among many food vendors in Ghana [ 38 ] although cooked food is sometimes served with bare hands [ 39 ], thus putting customers at risk of foodborne infections [ 40 ]. There are several studies conducted on microbial contamination on GH¢ notes mainly in major cities in Ghana.…”

Bacterial Contaminants and Antibiogram of Ghana paper currency notes in circulation and its associated Health risks in Asante-Mampong, Ghana

“…Infections with pathogens via faecal oral route from fomites are rampant [37]. There is, however, poor adherence to effective hand washing among many food vendors in Ghana [38] although cooked food is sometime served with bare hands [39]; thus putting customers at risk of foodborne infections [40]. There are several studies conducted on microbial contamination on GH¢ notes mainly in major cities in Ghana.…”