Should Weights and Risk Categories Be Used for Inspection Scores To Evaluate Food Safety in Restaurants?

2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 501-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
DIOGO THIMOTEO da CUNHA ◽  
VERIDIANA VERA de ROSSO ◽  
ELKE STEDEFELDT
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Food Service ◽  
Safety Evaluation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Risk Category ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Evaluation Bias ◽  
Risk Categories ◽  
Food Safety Evaluation

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to verify the characteristics of food safety inspections, considering risk categories and binary scores. A cross-sectional study was performed with 439 restaurants in 43 Brazilian cities. A food safety checklist with 177 items was applied to the food service establishments. These items were classified into four groups (R1 to R4) according to the main factors that can cause outbreaks involving food: R1, time and temperature aspects; R2, direct contamination; R3, water conditions and raw material; and R4, indirect contamination (i.e., structures and buildings). A score adjusted for 100 was calculated for the overall violation score and the violation score for each risk category. The average violation score (standard deviation) was 18.9% (16.0), with an amplitude of 0.0 to 76.7%. Restaurants with a low overall violation score (approximately 20%) presented a high number of violations from the R1 and R2 groups, representing the most risky violations. Practical solutions to minimize this evaluation bias were discussed. Food safety evaluation should use weighted scores and be risk-based. However, some precautions must be taken by researchers, health inspectors, and health surveillance departments to develop an adequate and reliable instrument.

scholarly journals Association of Internet Use with Attitudes Toward Food Safety in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 4162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaping Zhang ◽  
Zhiyong Cai ◽  
Mingwang Cheng ◽  
Huirong Zhang ◽  
Heng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Information Acquisition ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Safety Evaluation ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
People’S Attitudes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Food Safety Evaluation

A growing body of research has shown that people’s attitudes toward food safety is affected by their availability and accessibility to food risk information. In the digital era, the Internet has become the most important channel for information acquisition. However, empirical evidence related to the impact of Internet use on people’s attitudes towards food safety is inadequate. In this study, by employing the Chinese Social Survey for 2013 and 2015, we have investigated the current situation of food safety perceptions and evaluations among Chinese residents and the association between Internet use and individuals’ food safety evaluations. Empirical results indicate that there is a significant negative correlation between Internet use and people’s food safety evaluation in China. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis shows that Internet use has a stronger negative correlation with food safety evaluation for those lacking rational judgment regarding Internet information. Specifically, the negative correlation between Internet use and food safety evaluations is more obvious among rural residents, young people, and less educated residents. Finally, propensity score matching (PSM) is applied to conduct a robustness check. This paper provides new evidence for studies on the relationship between Internet use and an individuals’ food safety cognition, as well as additional policy enlightenment for food safety risk management in the digital age.

scholarly journals Association of socio-demographic variables and risk of type 2 diabetes using Indian diabetes risk score: a cross-sectional study in urban Mysuru

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 740
Author(s):  
Mansoor Ahmed ◽  
Amrutha A. M.
Keyword(s):  
Risk Score ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Risk Category ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Family History Of Diabetes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of ◽  
Risk Categories

Background: About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes. India has 69.2 million people living with diabetes out of a population of 1.3 billion (8.7%) as per the 2015 data. Of these, it remained undiagnosed in more than 36 million people. Early identification of at-risk individuals and appropriate lifestyle intervention would help in preventing or postponing the onset of diabetes mellitus. Present study aimed to study the association of IDRS components with socio demographic and anthropometric variables among adults in urban area of Mysore.Methods: A community-based cross sectional study was conducted in the urban areas of the field practice area of Mysore Medical College and Research Institute. The study was conducted between March and July 2015. Using the estimation set up technique for proportion, the sample size was calculated to be 872 rounded off to 900, with level of significance of 5% and precision of 10%. Risk level for diabetes was assessed using Indian Diabetic Risk Score (IDRS) and sociodemographic and anthropometric factors were assessed through a semi structured pretested questionnaire.Results: Of 900 participants, 197 (21.9%) had a high risk score (IDRS ≥60), the majority of participants (383; 42.5%) were in the moderate-risk category (IDRS 30–50). There was statistically significant difference between type of family and different risk categories under age component of IDRS (p<0.0005). Statistical significance was observed for marital status and SES among different age groups. Association was found significant between family history of diabetes component of IDRS and gender. There was also statistically significant difference between SES and different risk categories under family history of diabetes component of IDRS (p<0.0005).Conclusions: IDRS should be used routinely in community-based screening to find out high risk category of population for diabetes.

Evaluation of food safety and health risk factors in food service establishments; a case study in Qom province, Iran

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yadollah Ghafuri ◽  
Zahra Atafar ◽  
Gholamreza Jahed Khaniki
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Food Service ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Food Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Safety And Health

Foodborne diseases still occur and affect 30 % of people in the world annually. Existing data related to the status of food safety and health indicators of food services facilities in Qom province indicate that a low percentage of these centers have the necessary criteria in the principles of food safety. According to the factors affecting the promotion of food health and safety indicators, this study was conducted to identify and investigate the factors affecting the risk of food safety in food supply centers in Qom in 2018. In this cross-sectional study, the required data were obtained through validated questionnaires about food safety and environmental health of food services facilities (n=380). Also, the effectiveness of variables such as training on food safety principles through designing before and after study, educational certification, having trading licenses, ownership, urban health status and the age of operators, have been assessed by food safety factors based on relevant tests. The results showed that the training of food handlers in improving and upgrading food safety conditions has had a significant increase. (49 %, mean 5.44 %, SD 3.20 ±, p < 0.001) Also variables such as education level (p < 0.05) and educational certification (p < 0.001) have been effective in increasing food safety and health standards. In order to improve the level of food safety, reviewing the process of educational programs, strengthening educational equipment and media and inter-sectorial coordination to strengthen the role of education should be planned. The food holders, managers of the food establishment and local health experts should enhance the food safety practice.

Nutrition analysis and food safety evaluation of green tide algae in 2010

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 141
Author(s):  
Chuang WU ◽  
Jiahai MA ◽  
Song GAO ◽  
Min JU ◽  
Xiang HU ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Safety Evaluation ◽  
Green Tide ◽  
Food Safety Evaluation

scholarly journals Caffeine Health Claims on Sports Supplement Labeling. Analytical Assessment According to EFSA Scientific Opinion and International Evidence and Criteria

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 2095
Author(s):  
Pedro Estevan Navarro ◽  
Isabel Sospedra ◽  
Alejandro Perales ◽  
Cristina González-Díaz ◽  
Rubén Jiménez-Alfageme ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Endurance Performance ◽  
Food Supplement ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
European Food Safety Authority ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Strength Performance ◽  
Scientific Opinion ◽  
Term Performance

Caffeine is a food supplement widely consumed by athletes, but it has not been established. So far, the veracity of their labeling in terms of the dosage and cause/effect relationship aimed at the consumer. The aim is to analyze the health claims and the dosage presented on the labeling of caffeine supplements and to evaluate if they follow the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and international criteria. A descriptive cross-sectional study of a sample of caffeine supplements was carried out. The search was done through the Amazon and Google Shopping web portals. In order to assess the adequacy of the health claims, the guidelines of reference established by European Food Safety Authority were compared to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, International Olympic Committee, and Australian Institute of Sport guidelines; in addition, recent systematic reviews were addressed. A review of labels of 42 caffeine supplements showed that, in less than 3% of the products were the health claims supported by the recommendations and by the labeled quantity of caffeine. The claims that fully complied the recommendations were, “improves or increases endurance performance”, “improves strength performance”, or “improves short-term performance”. In most cases, the recommended dosage was 200 mg/day for these products, which is the minimum for the caffeine effects to be declared. The rest of the health claims were not adequate or need to be modified. Most of the health claims identified indicated an unproven cause and effect, which constitutes consumer fraud, and so must be modified or eliminated.

Peer effects in the valuation and practices of food safety: findings from the study of dairy consumers in India

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj Chandra ◽  
Abdul Munasib ◽  
Devesh Roy ◽  
Vinay K. Sonkar
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Peer Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Campaigns ◽  
Social Multiplier ◽  
Multiplier Effects ◽  
The Right

Purpose Information is often available to consumers through their social networks. Focusing on dairy consumers in India, this paper aims to present evidence of peer effects in consumers’ attitudes towards various food safety attributes and food safety practices. Design/methodology/approach Unobserved individual heterogeneities are crucial confounders in the identification of social (endogenous) effects. The identification is based on exploiting within-consumer variation across different aspects of attitude (or practices) related to food safety. Findings This paper uses a novel identification strategy that allows for average effects across attributes and practices to be estimated. Using the strategy, though this paper cannot estimate endogenous effects in each attribute or practice, this paper is able to identify such effects averaged over attributes or practices. Research limitations/implications Cross-sectional study, caste affiliation is not defined at the right level of granularity. Practical implications The results suggest that information campaigns aimed at creating awareness about food safety can have social multiplier effects, and this also translates into changes in the practices followed to mitigate food safety risks. Social implications In health-related awareness and practices, there are well-established cases of multiplier effects. The most significant example of this is the Pulse Polio campaign in India, where an awareness drives through social multiplier effects had such a significant impact that in 2012 India was declared polio-free. Perhaps, a similar campaign in matters related to food safety could be very fruitful. Originality/value The methodology and the issue are unique. Little exists in assessing social networks in the context of food safety.

Knowledge and awareness about food safety, foodborne disease, and microbial hazards: A cross-sectional study among Bangladeshi consumers of street-vended foods

Food Control ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 108718
Author(s):  
Md Hasan Al Banna ◽  
Satyajit Kundu ◽  
Keith Brazendale ◽  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽  
Tasnim Rahman Disu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Foodborne Disease ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional
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