Food safety knowledge and attitudes of food handlers in hospitals in the Capricorn District Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Year: 2017
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The purpose of this research was to investigate the level of food safety knowledge, attitudes \nand food handling practices of employees in hospitals in the Capricorn District Municipality \n(CDM), Limpopo Province, South Africa. Purposeful sampling was followed to sample 210 \nrespondents from nine hospitals in CDM. Respondents were individuals who are 18 years or \nmore, employed in these hospitals and are involved in the food handling duties. Data collection \nwas done by means of questionnaires and interviews. The results showed that 99% and 70% of \nthe food handlers are black females and are health care staffs. Up to 71% have not attended \nany food safety-training course. Many food handlers are not knowledgeable about HACCP and \nthe correct temperature and duration for receiving and storing temperature controlled for safety \n(TCS) foods respectively. The vast majority of food handlers are not knowledgeable on \nminimum internal cooking temperature for poultry, seafood, egg and the best way of thawing \nof frozen meat. The majority of food handlers do not know that Salmonella is the main \nfoodborne bacteria pathogen mostly associated with poultry products and that food borne \nbacteria will grow quickly in food at a temperature of 37 ˚C. The majority of food handlers \npossess adequate food safety knowledge regarding the safe food handling practices and the \nprevention of contamination. Respondents with higher academic qualifications do not possess \nmore food safety knowledge than those with lower academic qualifications. Food handlers who \nare health care staff have less food safety knowledge when compared to food service managers, \nfood service supervisors and chefs.
Author: Lesiba A Teffo
Language: English
Topic: Food Safety and Hygiene
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: University of South Africa
OpenAlex ID: W2896486323