scholarly journals Food safety knowledge and microbiological hygiene of households in selected areas of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mveli Cyril Mkhungo ◽  
Ajibola Bamikole Oyedeji ◽  
Oluwatosin Ademola Ijabadeniyi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Cold Storage ◽  
Storage Temperature ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Food Contact ◽  
Contact Surfaces ◽  
Safety Knowledge

This study was conducted to determine the level of food safety knowledge and practices during food handling and preparation at household level in selected areas in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Fifty households were selected to participate based on their monthly income, age and educational level. Samples of raw foods were randomly collected from the participating households for microbial analyses. Swabs from food contact surfaces were also collected and analyzed for the presence of pathogens. Difference in demographic data regarding food safety knowledge was tested using chi-square and microbial counts were statistically analyzed (P<0.05). Knowledge of proper cold storage temperature was found to be inadequate as over 70% of respondents had no idea of their cold storage temperatures. High risk of cross contamination was observed due to improper thawing, packaging of meat with other ready to eat foods and poor food contact material handling. Microbial analyses of raw food samples showed the presence of aerobic spore formers (1.08-1.89 log cfu/mL), anaerobic spore formers (0.29- 1.83 log cfu/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (3.31-3.96 log cfu/mL). Contact surfaces were also positive for Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp and Escherichia coli. Food safety knowledge and proper food handling practices were found to be inadequate in the areas studied and urgent intervention is required to prevent fatal incidences of food borne illnesses.

Evaluation of food safety knowledge and microbial status of food contact surfaces in schools

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. e12480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Csaba Bálint Illés ◽  
András J. Tóth ◽  
Anna Dunay ◽  
József Lehota ◽  
András Bittsánszky
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Food Contact ◽  
Food Contact Surfaces ◽  
Contact Surfaces ◽  
Safety Knowledge ◽  
Microbial Status

scholarly journals Assessment of Performance of Two Rapid Methods for On-Site Control of Microbial and Biofilm Contamination

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 744
Author(s):  
Fernando Lorenzo ◽  
Maria Sanz-Puig ◽  
Ramón Bertó ◽  
Enrique Orihuel
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Biofilm Growth ◽  
Food Contact ◽  
Food Contact Surfaces ◽  
Contact Surfaces ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Contamination Levels

(1) Background: The validation of hygiene procedures in food industries is paramount to ensure that food contact surfaces are properly decontaminated before production. Rapid, sensitive and reliable tools are needed for routine hygiene validation in order to increase food safety levels. Two novel tools for biofilm detection (TBF 300) and detection of low levels of microbial contamination (FreshCheck) have been assessed. (2) Methods: Biofilms of relevant food pathogens: Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. were grown for 3 and 10 days to assess the performance of the biofilm detection product. Surfaces were inoculated with different levels of L. monocytogenes to determine the limit of detection of FreshCheck. (3) Results: TBF 300 visibly stained 3 days-old biofilms of both pathogens, containing 5.0–5.4 log CFU/cm2. FreshCheck showed a positive reaction with contamination levels as low as 10 CFU/cm2 for L. monocytogenes. (4) Conclusions: Assessment of the hygienic status of food contact surfaces before production can be greatly improved with the use of the two novel tools evaluated in this study. The detection of microorganisms’ presence at very low levels of contamination as well as identification of biofilm growth spots is available in a rapid and easy way, with a big potential contribution to food safety.

Qualitative Studies of the Food Safety Knowledge and Perceptions of Transplant Patients

2010 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
GANG CHEN ◽  
PATRICIA A. KENDALL ◽  
VIRGINIA N. HILLERS ◽  
LYDIA C. MEDEIROS
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Stem Cell Transplant ◽  
Organ Transplant ◽  
Foodborne Illness ◽  
Cell Transplant ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Transplant Patients ◽  
Safety Knowledge

Organ and stem cell transplant patients are at risk for foodborne illness due to disease and medically induced immunosuppression. The food safety knowledge and informational needs of these groups have not been documented in the literature. The objectives of this study were to assess transplant patients' food safety knowledge and perceptions, to probe the likelihood of practicing safe food handling behavior, and to test an educational strategy for future food safety interventions aimed at transplant patients. Subjects were organ or stem cell transplant patients, or their family care providers. Research was conducted in inpatient or outpatient facilities at a large, Midwestern United States comprehensive cancer and transplant center. Differences in survey data between the organ and stem cell transplant groups were determined by Student's t tests. Ethnographic methods were used to analyze qualitative focus groups and interview data for themes. Organ transplant patients had less motivation to follow food safety recommendations than did stem cell transplant patients, and they were more likely to consume risky foods. Stem cell transplant patients overall had a better understanding of their susceptibility to foodborne illness and had better prepared themselves with the knowledge and behavior changes needed to protect their health. Educational materials aimed at communicating food safety information for transplant patients were evaluated by patients and judged acceptable. This study found that organ transplant and stem cell transplant patients are distinct patient populations, with differing perceptions regarding the seriousness of foodborne illness and willingness to adopt preventative food handling practices. Population differences should be accounted for in food safety educational strategies.

Food safety knowledge and food-handling practices of Greek university students: A questionnaire-based survey

Food Control ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 400-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomai Lazou ◽  
Marios Georgiadis ◽  
Kristina Pentieva ◽  
Aideen McKevitt ◽  
Eleni Iossifidou
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
University Students ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Safety Knowledge ◽  
Food Handling Practices

Risk of Foodborne Illness from Pet Food: Assessing Pet Owners' Knowledge, Behavior, and Risk Perception

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (11) ◽  
pp. 1998-2007
Author(s):  
MERLYN THOMAS ◽  
YAOHUA FENG
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pet Food ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Pet Owners ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Safety Knowledge ◽  
Food Handling Practices

ABSTRACT Pet food has been identified as a source of pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella and Escherichia coli. A recent outbreak linked to Salmonella-contaminated pet treats infected &gt;150 people in the United States. The mechanism by which contaminated pet food leads to human illness has not been explicated, and pet owners' food safety knowledge and their pet food handling practices have not been reported. This study was conducted to evaluate pet owners' food safety knowledge and pet food handling practices through an online consumer survey. The survey consisted of 62 questions and assessed (i) owners' food safety knowledge and pet food handling practices; (ii) owners' interaction with pets; and (iii) owners' risk perception related to their own health, their children's health, and their pets' health. The survey was pilot tested among 59 pet owners before distribution to a national consumer panel managed by Qualtrics XM (Provo, UT). All participants (n = 1,040) were dog and/or cat owners in the United States. Almost all pet owners (93%) interacted with their pets, and most cuddled, allowed their pets to lick them, and slept with their pets. Less than one-third of pet owners washed their hands with soap after interacting with their pets. Over half (58%) of the owners reported washing their hands after feeding their pets. Most pet owners fed their pets dry pet food and dry pet treats. Some fed their pets raw meat or raw animal product diets because they believed these diets to be beneficial to the pet's overall health. Many owners (78%) were unaware of pet food recalls or outbreaks associated with foodborne pathogens. Less than 25% considered dry pet foods and treats as a potential source of foodborne pathogens. Pet owners were more concerned when seeing news about pets becoming ill from pet food and less concerned when seeing news about people becoming ill from pet food. The findings of this study indicated the need for consumer education about handling pet food. These results can help researchers develop more accurate risk assessment models and consumer education messages related to pet food handling. HIGHLIGHTS

Microbiological Performance of Dairy Processing Plants Is Influenced by Scale of Production and the Implemented Food Safety Management System: A Case Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 975-975 ◽  
Author(s):  
BEATRICE ATIENO OPIYO ◽  
JOHN WANGOH ◽  
PATRICK MURIGU KAMAU NJAGE
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Microbial Quality ◽  
Food Contact ◽  
Food Contact Surfaces ◽  
End Products ◽  
Microbiological Parameters ◽  
Contact Surfaces

The effects of existing food safety management systems and size of the production facility on microbiological quality in the dairy industry in Kenya were studied. A microbial assessment scheme was used to evaluate 14 dairies in Nairobi and its environs, and their performance was compared based on their size and on whether they were implementing hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) systems and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 22000 recommendations. Environmental samples from critical sampling locations, i.e., workers' hands and food contact surfaces, and from end products were analyzed for microbial quality, including hygiene indicators and pathogens. Microbial safety level profiles (MSLPs) were constructed from the microbiological data to obtain an overview of contamination. The maximum MSLP score for environmental samples was 18 (six microbiological parameters, each with a maximum MSLP score of 3) and that for end products was 15 (five microbiological parameters). Three dairies (two large scale and one medium scale; 21% of total) achieved the maximum MSLP scores of 18 for environmental samples and 15 for the end product. Escherichia coli was detected on food contact surfaces in three dairies, all of which were small scale dairies, and the microorganism was also present in end product samples from two of these dairies, an indication of cross-contamination. Microbial quality was poorest in small scale dairies. Most operations in these dairies were manual, with minimal system documentation. Noncompliance with hygienic practices such as hand washing and cleaning and disinfection procedures, which is common in small dairies, directly affects the microbial quality of the end products. Dairies implementing HACCP systems or ISO 22000 recommendations achieved maximum MSLP scores and hence produced safer products.

Self-reported food safety knowledge and practices of Lebanese food handlers in Lebanese households

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 518-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussein F. Hassan ◽  
Hani Dimassi ◽  
Zeina Nakat Karam
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Food Handlers ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Safety Knowledge

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess level of food safety knowledge and self-reported practices among Lebanese food handlers in Lebanese households and to identify the association between knowledge/practices and socio-demographic characteristics. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,500 participants from different gender, age, area of residence, income, marital status and education. They completed a questionnaire of six questions about demographics, and 26 questions related to knowledge and self-reported practices in terms of food handling, storage, usage of kitchen facilities and personal hygiene subgroups. SPSS v23 was used for statistical analyses. Student t-test and analysis of variance were conducted. Significance level of 0.05 was used. Findings On average, participants scored 55.6±16.3, 51.3±25.7, 67.4±19.3 and 89.1±16.3 on food handling, storage, usage of kitchen facilities and personal hygiene, respectively, whereas the passing (score above 50 percent) rates were 64.5, 69.9, 90.5 and 99.1, respectively, for the different subgroups. Gender had significant (p<0.05) effect on food handling and personal hygiene; age, marital status and education had significant (p<0.05) effect on handling, usage of kitchen facilities and personal hygiene; area of residence had significant (p<0.05) effect on storage, handling and usage of kitchen facilities; income had significant (p<0.05) effect on handling and usage of kitchen facilities. Overall mean food safety knowledge and self-reported practices score was 63.8±12.6; passing rate was 86.2; gender, age, area of residence, education, marital status and income had significant (p<0.05) effect. Food safety self-reported practices and knowledge scores were significantly (p<0.001) related to a weak to moderate correlation coefficient (R=0.34). Practical implications The results confirm the need for ongoing educational initiatives to improve the relatively low food safety knowledge and practices among the Lebanese food handlers in Lebanese households. Originality/value No study has determined the food safety knowledge and self-reported practices of Lebanese food handlers in Lebanese households before.

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