Assessing food safety and associated food hygiene and sanitary practices in food industries: A cross-sectional study on biscuit industry of Jessore, Bangladesh

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices of food handlers about food hygiene and sanitation in biscuit industry of central marketing company in Jessore, Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered, structured questionnaire was designed and data were collected during the period of April to July 2016 from 110 food handlers using simple random sampling.

Findings

The results show that the food handlers had excellent knowledge, attitude and good practices toward food hygiene and sanitation and food contamination related to food safety. The mean score (standard deviation) of knowledge, attitudes and practices were 20.1 (3.9), 18.6 (3.1) and 16.7 (3.3), respectively (p < 0.007). There was significant correlation between food safety training and knowledge, knowledge and attitude or knowledge and practices (p < 0.001). The majority (90.9 per cent) of the respondents stated that they intended to make sure that the prepared food was safe for consumers, which was significant (p < 0.007). Almost all of the food workers were aware of the critical role of general sanitary practices in the work place. The study suggests that the knowledge, attitude and practice level of food handlers were satisfactory.

Originality/value

Continuous education and training should be organized to strengthen food handlers’ knowledge in areas which seem to be deficient.

Citation

Shuvo, S.D. (2018), "Assessing food safety and associated food hygiene and sanitary practices in food industries: A cross-sectional study on biscuit industry of Jessore, Bangladesh", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 48 No. 1, pp. 111-124. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-03-2017-0049