Knowledge of environmental hygiene and food safety practices among food handlers in selected hotels in Ikom Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria.
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Abstract
The study examined the knowledge of environmental hygiene and food safety practices among food handlers in selected hotels in Ikom Local Government Area (LGA), Cross River State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, incorporating both surveys and direct observation of food handlers’ practices. The study population comprised 63 registered hotels in the LGA, from which 6 hotels (10%) that had been in operation for at least five years were purposively selected. Respondents included food handlers with a minimum of two years of work experience. Data was analyzed using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation (PPMC) to test the relationship between food safety training and food safety practices among the respondents. The findings revealed a statistically significant relationship (r = 0.66, n=8, p< 0.05) between food safety and improved food safety practices, particularly in areas such as hand washing and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). However, the overall knowledge of environmental hygiene and food safety was found to be inadequate, with noticeable gaps in critical aspects of food safety. The study concludes that continuous and structured training programs are necessary to enhance knowledge, reinforce safe practices, and improve overall food safety compliance among food handlers in the study area.
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