scholarly journals Food Handling Practices in the Era of COVID-19: A Mixed-Method Longitudinal Needs Assessment of Consumers in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merlyn S. Thomas ◽  
Yaohua Feng
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
The United States ◽  
Safety Education ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Food Safety Education ◽  
Consumer Panel ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Food Handling Practices

At present, SARS-CoV-2 has not been shown to be transmitted through food, even so the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how consumers view food and food safety. This study assessed consumer food safety practices during the COVID-19 pandemic using (1) surveys and (2) online focus group discussions. From April to August 2020, five waves of surveys were distributed to an online U.S. consumer panel and screened to include only primary food preparers and grocery shoppers. The online focus groups were conducted via WebEx from May to July 2020. Focus group participants were recruited from the first wave of survey respondents. Both survey respondents and focus group participants reported higher levels of handwashing in response to the pandemic. However, survey participants’ anticipated levels of handwashing after the pandemic decreased; some focus group participants noted that human nature “kicking in” could lead to lower levels of hand hygiene practice. For each of the five months, the survey reported increased produce washing, both with water only and with water plus soap. Most focus group participants mentioned using water to wash their produce, but some reported using soap and even vinegar to “kill” the virus. Since consumers were worried that SARS-Cov-2 could survive on food, they started to mishandle food to address these concerns. However, this study also reported an increase in food thermometer use during the pandemic. Social determinants like gender, income, education, and age may have also influenced changes in levels of practice throughout the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic drove consumers to practice proper and improper food safety practices, which may or may not continue after the pandemic. This study’s findings provide timely information to guide future food safety education and communication during health crises and pandemics.

Food Safety Practices among Pregnant Women and Mothers in the Women, Infants, and Children Program, Miami, Florida

2007 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 1230-1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARY JO TREPKA ◽  
FREDERICK L. NEWMAN ◽  
ZISCA DIXON ◽  
FATMA G. HUFFMAN
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Infants And Children ◽  
Safety Education ◽  
Foodborne Illnesses ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Food Safety Education ◽  
First Child ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Food Handling Practices

Pregnant women and infants are two groups at the highest risk of severe outcomes from foodborne illnesses. We surveyed adult clients of a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinic serving predominately African Americans in inner-city Miami, Florida, to assess food safety practices. Eligible and consenting women completed a 23-item self-administered survey with questions concerning food handling practices around the Partnership for Food Safety Education's Fight BAC! campaign constructs of “clean,” “separate” (not cross-contaminated), “cook,” and “chill.” Of 342 eligible clients, 299 (87.4%) consented to participate. In general, the clients' food safety practices were most problematic in the cook and chill constructs. Using a cooking thermometer, refrigerating foods within 2 h, and thawing them safely were the least commonly reported safe practices. Women who were pregnant with their first child had the lowest food safety practice scores. Of the 62 pregnant participants, 32 (51.6%) reported eating hot dogs or deli meats without first reheating them some of the time or more often, and 22 (35.5%) reported eating soft cheeses and blue-veined cheeses some of the time or more often, putting the women at risk of listeriosis. Although all women in the WIC program could benefit from food safety education, these findings indicate that women during their first pregnancy should especially be targeted for food safety education.

scholarly journals Recipes for Determining Doneness in Poultry Do Not Provide Appropriate Information Based on US Government Guidelines

Foods ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar Chambers ◽  
Sandria Godwin ◽  
Taylor Terry
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Safety Information ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cooking Time ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Us Government ◽  
Specific Temperature ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Food Handling Practices

Research has shown that consumers use unsafe food handling practices when preparing poultry, which can increase the risk of foodborne illness such as salmonellosis or campylobacteriosis. Recipes from cookbooks, magazines, and the internet commonly are used as sources for consumers to prepare food in homes and the expectation is that food will be safe when prepared. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), using a thermometer properly is the only way to accurately check for doneness of poultry. The objective of this study was to assess poultry recipes, including recipes for whole birds and poultry parts, to determine if food safety information concerning thermometer use was included within the recipe. Poultry recipes (n = 474) were collected from 217 cookbooks, 28 magazines, 59 websites, and seven blogs. Approximately 33.5% of the recipes contained a specific temperature for doneness, with 73% of those cooked to ≥165 °F/74 °C, as recommended by USDA. Ninety-four percent of recipes used cooking time and about half of the recipes used visual measurements, such as color or juices running clear, to determine doneness. This study showed that most recipes do not contain appropriate information to assure safe cooking of poultry by consumers. Modifying recipes by adding food safety information, such as thermometer use and proper temperatures, could increase the use of proper food preparation behaviors by consumers.

scholarly journals Food Safety Practices among Postnatal Mothers in Western Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Stephen T. Odonkor ◽  
Napoleon Kurantin ◽  
Anthony M. Sallar
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Postnatal Mothers ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Food Handling Practices ◽  
Good Food

Food safety has become a global issue due to the morbidity and mortality associated with it, particularly in developing countries. The objective of this community-based study is to examine food safety practices and its associated factors among postnatal mothers in the Western Region of Ghana. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted from August 1 2019 to January 31, 2020 from which data was obtained from the postnatal mothers ( N = 300 ). The data was analysed using SPSS v.23. The findings suggest that majority (86%) of the respondents exhibited good food handling practices. Also, 66.3% and 91.7% of the respondents exhibited good food preparation and proper storage practices, respectively. Results also revealed that the odds of performing good handling practice among respondents within the age group of 36-45 years were five times higher compared to those within the age group of 18-25 years [ OR = 4.92 (95% CI: 1.44–16.86), p = 0.011 ]. Moreover, respondents who had tertiary education qualifications were more likely to have proper food handling practices compared to those with primary education [ OR = 0.27 (95% CI: 0.09–0.71), p = 0.009 ]. These findings provide useful insights for policy directions. The government of Ghana and other stakeholders should develop a communication strategy to increase and sustain publicity and education on food safety particularly to postnatal mothers and the citizenry in general.

Behavioral Observation and Microbiological Analysis of Older Adult Consumers' Cross-Contamination Practices in a Model Domestic Kitchen

2018 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELLEN W. EVANS ◽  
ELIZABETH C. REDMOND
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Behavioral Observation ◽  
Microbiological Analysis ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Microbiological Contamination ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Food Handling Practices

ABSTRACT The incidence of foodborne illness is higher in older adults because of their increased susceptibility; therefore, food safety practices are important. However, inadequate knowledge and negative attitudes toward food safety have been reported, which may increase use of unsafe food handling practices. Data on the actual food safety behaviors of older adults are lacking. In this study, food safety practices of older adults were observed and linked to microbiological analysis of kitchen surfaces to identify suspected routes of contamination. Older adults (≥60 years, n = 100) prepared a set meal in a model domestic kitchen sanitized according to a validated protocol to ensure minimal and consistent microbiological loads. Food safety behaviors were observed using ceiling-mounted cameras and recorded using a predetermined behavioral checklist. Surface microbiological contamination also was determined after food preparation. Overall, older adults frequently implemented unsafe food handling practices; 90% failed to implement adequate hand decontamination immediately after handling raw chicken. For older adults who used a larger number of adequate hand decontamination attempts, microbiological contamination levels in the kitchen following the food preparation session were significantly lower (P < 0.001). The novel utilization of behavioral observation in conjunction with microbiological analysis facilitated identification of potentially unsafe food handling practices as suspected routes of microbiological cross-contamination in a model domestic kitchen. Findings indicate the potential impact on domestic food safety of unsafe food handling practices used by older adult consumers. This innovative approach revealed that a large proportion of older adults implement behaviors resulting in microbiological cross-contamination that may increase the risk of foodborne illness in the home.

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 >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

scholarly journals Melons: Safe Handling Practices for Consumers

EDIS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Simonne
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
The United States ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Safe Handling ◽  
Fact Sheet ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Honeydew Melon

Since most of us buy melons at the store or farmers market, it is easy to forget that most melons are grown on the ground. Watermelons, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon are the most popular varieties of melons in the United States. Because they are exposed to pests and microorganisms from dirt, it is very important to apply the best food safety practices before enjoying them. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Amy Simonne, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, June 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy488

scholarly journals Consumer Education Needed on Norovirus Prevention and Control: Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey of U.S. Adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 484-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHERYL C. CATES ◽  
KATHERINE M. KOSA ◽  
JENNA E. BROPHY ◽  
ARON J. HALL ◽  
ANGELA FRASER
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Safety Education ◽  
Educational Materials ◽  
Food Safety Education ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Transmission Prevention ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
And Control

Noroviruses (NoVs) are the leading cause of foodborne disease in the United States; however, little is known about consumers' knowledge of NoV infection and their understanding of how to prevent and control associated illness. A nationally representative Web-enabled panel survey of U.S. adults (n = 1,051) was conducted to collect information on consumers' awareness and knowledge of NoVs. Respondents who had heard of NoVs were asked 22 true-and-false questions on the transmission, prevention, and control of NoVs. Forty-seven percent of respondents reported awareness of NoVs, and 85% of respondents had heard of the terms “cruise ship virus,” “the stomach bug,” or “the stomach flu,” which are commonly used to describe NoVs. Of those respondents who had previously heard of NoV or other terms used by consumers to describe NoV (n = 948), 36% correctly answered 11 or more of the 22 true-and-false questions, suggesting that consumers have limited knowledge on how to prevent and control NoV infection. Most consumers do not understand that the primary mode of transmission for NoV infection is fecal to oral, and many have the misperception that meat and poultry are sources of NoV infection. There is the need to educate consumers about how to prevent and control NoV infection. Although there is a proliferation of food safety education materials available, most focus on foodborne bacteria rather than viruses. The survey results will be used to revise existing consumer food safety educational materials to include information on NoV prevention and control.

scholarly journals Food Safety Practices and Associated Factors among Food Handlers of Fiche Town, North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Samuel Chane Teferi ◽  
Israel Sebsibe ◽  
Birhanu Adibaru
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Food Handlers ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Food And Drink ◽  
Food Handling Practices

Background. Foodborne diseases remain a major public health problem globally, but the problem is severe in developing countries like Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess food safety practices and associated factors among food handlers of Fiche town. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 food handlers working in food and drink establishments. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire and observational checklist. Data were entered and coded into SPSS for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the predictor variables associated with the practice of food handlers ( p < 0.05 ). Result. 61.6% of food handlers knew the potential risk of contaminating food with dirty hands, and 70% washed hands with soap before working with food. 52.8% of food handlers covered the hair with restraints. 66.8% of food handlers used outer garments, and the majority of food handlers (71.1%) had a trimmed fingernail. Two hundred thirteen (50.5%) of food handlers had good food handling practices. Medical checkup (AOR = 3.16; 95% CI 1.89, 5.26), sanitary inspection (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI 1.16, 2.69), knowledge (AOR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.53, 3.48), service year (AOR = 3.11; 95% CI 1.53, 6.31), and educational status (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI 1.29, 9.04) were found to be significantly associated with food handling practices. Conclusion. The food handlers should take various training concerning food hygiene and safety to enhance their knowledge and practice. Regular sanitary inspection of food and drink establishments is recommended.

Consumer Food Handling in the Home: A Review of Food Safety Studies

2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELIZABETH C. REDMOND ◽  
CHRISTOPHER J. GRIFFITH
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Food Preparation ◽  
Foodborne Disease ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Safety Studies ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Food Handling Practices ◽  
Domestic Food

Epidemiological data from Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand indicate that a substantial proportion of foodborne disease is attributable to improper food preparation practices in consumers' homes. International concern about consumer food safety has prompted considerable research to evaluate domestic food-handling practices. The majority of consumer food safety studies in the last decade have been conducted in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (48%) and in the United States (42%). Surveys (questionnaires and interviews), the most frequent means of data collection, were used in 75% of the reviewed studies. Focus groups and observational studies have also been used. One consumer food safety study examined the relationship between pathogenic microbial contamination from raw chicken and observed food-handling behaviors, and the results of this study indicated extensive Campylobacter cross-contamination during food preparation sessions. Limited information about consumers' attitudes and intentions with regard to safe food-handling behaviors has been obtained, although a substantial amount of information about consumer knowledge and self-reported practices is available. Observation studies suggest that substantial numbers of consumers frequently implement unsafe food-handling practices. Knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and self-reported practices did not correspond to observed behaviors, suggesting that observational studies provide a more realistic indication of the food hygiene actions actually used in domestic food preparation. An improvement in consumer food-handling behavior is likely to reduce the risk and incidence of foodborne disease. The need for the development and implementation of food safety education strategies to improve specific food safety behaviors is reviewed in this paper.

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