Food Handling Concerns and Practices at-Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Food Security Status

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Lin ◽  
Frank A Granata IV ◽  
Abbey K Trippel ◽  
Leslie Tello ◽  
Tammy K Stump ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Cleaning Agents ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Safe Food ◽  
Food Handling Practices

There is limited examination about COVID-19-related food handling concerns and practices that cause chemical or microbial contamination and illness, particularly among those with food insecurity. We investigated consumer food handling concerns and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether they differed by food insecurity status. An online survey was distributed among Chicago, Illinois residents between July 15-August 21, 2020 (N=437). Independent t-tests and Fisher’s Exact tests were used to identify differences in food handling concerns and practices between those with and without food insecurity (alpha=0.05). Survey items included questions about food handling practices that were considered safe or neutral (i.e., washing hands and produce with water, sanitizing food packaging) and unsafe (i.e., using cleaning agents to wash foods, leaving perishable foods outside) using 5-point Likert-style scales or categorical responses (i.e., yes, no). Participant responses fell between “slightly” and “somewhat” concerned about contracting COVID-19 from food and food packaging (mean ± SE: 2.7±0.1). While participants reported washing their hands before eating and preparing foods at least “most of the time” (mean ± SE: 4.4 ± 0.0 and 4.5 ± 0.0, respectively), only one-third engaged in unsafe practices. The majority of participants (68%) indicated that they altered food handling practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic and received information about food safety from social media (61%).  When investigating differences in concerns and practices by food insecurity status, food insecure participants were more concerned about COVID-19 foodborne transmission for all food items (ps<0.0001) and more frequently performed unsafe based food handling practices than those with food security (ps<0.0001). Results from this study suggest more investigation is needed to understand barriers to safe food handling knowledge and practices, particularly among those with food insecurity.

scholarly journals Food Handling Concerns and Practices Among Patients With Underlying Medical Conditions Associated With COVID-19 Severity

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 251-251
Author(s):  
Abbey Trippel ◽  
Frank Granata ◽  
Daniel Weller ◽  
Tammy Stump ◽  
Mercedes Carnethon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Comparison Group ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Medical Conditions ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Cleaning Agents ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Food Handling Practices

Abstract Objectives Concerns about COVID-19 transmission have led to greater engagement in unsafe food handling practices (i.e., practices that can cause illness due to chemical or microbial contamination of food). Despite public awareness that certain medical conditions exacerbate COVID-19 illness severity, little is known about whether these patients have unique concerns and/or engage in unsafe practices to prevent COVID-19 infection. We compared the concerns and practices between adults with and without underlying medical conditions associated with greater COVID-19 severity. Methods An online survey was distributed among urban residents between July-August 2020 to inquire about food handling concerns and practices. Participants were included in the “higher-risk” group if they had ≥1 medical condition known to aggravate COVID-19 severity. Participants without any of these underlying medical conditions were included in the comparison group. Food handling concerns were rated on a 5-point scale (1 = never, 5 = always) and practices were determined using “yes/no” responses. Between-group differences in food handling beliefs and practices were analyzed with independent t-tests and Fisher's exact tests. Results Participants (n = 437) had a mean age of 34.2 ± 0.5 years. The higher-risk group (n = 132) was more concerned about foodborne transmission of COVID-19, regardless of food vehicle, than the comparison group (all ps < 0.0001). The higher-risk group also washed produce with cleaning agents (e.g., soap, hydrogen peroxide) more frequently [3.1 ± 1.6 vs. 2.5 ± 1.7; P = 0.001]. Relative to the comparison group, the higher-risk group left perishable food items outside for >1 hour (P < 0.0001) and washed raw meats with water and/or cleaning agents more often (P = 0.0001), while washing their hands before food preparation less often (P = 0.02). Conclusions Those at higher risk of greater COVID-19 severity were more concerned with foodborne COVID-19 transmission and more frequently engaged in unsafe food handling practices than those without underlying conditions. Effective methods are needed to correct misinformation surrounding COVID-19 foodborne transmission, especially among those with underlying medical conditions. Funding Sources This study was supported by a National Cancer Institute training grant.

scholarly journals Characteristics associated with changes in food security status among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Soldavini ◽  
Hazael Andrew ◽  
Maureen Berner
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Security Module ◽  
Adult Food

Abstract The prevalence of food insecurity in the USA has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, past studies have not examined how the food security status of college students has been impacted. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the prevalence of food insecurity; determine the proportion of students experiencing a change in food security status; and identify characteristics associated with changes in food security status from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of college students. We administered a cross-sectional online survey to students from a large public university in the Southeastern USA. The 10-item U.S. Adult Food Security Module was used to assess food security status during the spring 2020 semester both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and students self-reported a variety of individual characteristics. The overall prevalence of food insecurity increased by approximately one-third during the spring 2020 semester from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic. When examining the types of changes in food security status experienced by students, 12% improved, 68% stayed the same, and 20% worsened. A variety of characteristics were associated with an improvement or worsening of food security status category from before to during the pandemic. Similar to what is seen in other reports, we found that the overall proportion of college students in our sample experiencing food insecurity increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, some students showed improvements in food security status. Approaches for addressing food insecurity during and beyond the pandemic are needed.

scholarly journals Improving safe food-handling practices by increasing self-efficacy

Food Control ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 108361
Author(s):  
Denise van Rijen ◽  
Enrique Mergelsberg ◽  
Gill ten Hoor ◽  
Barbara Mullan
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Safe Food ◽  
Food Handling Practices

scholarly journals Poultry: the most common food in outbreaks with known pathogens, United States, 1998–2012

2016 ◽  
Vol 145 (2) ◽  
pp. 316-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. CHAI ◽  
D. COLE ◽  
A. NISLER ◽  
B. E. MAHON
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Food Handlers ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Food Category ◽  
Foodborne Outbreaks ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Safe Food ◽  
Private Homes ◽  
Food Handling Practices

SUMMARYAs poultry consumption continues to increase worldwide, and as the United States accounts for about one-third of all poultry exports globally, understanding factors leading to poultry-associated foodborne outbreaks in the United States has important implications for food safety. We analysed outbreaks reported to the United States’ Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System from 1998 to 2012 in which the implicated food or ingredient could be assigned to one food category. Of 1114 outbreaks, poultry was associated with 279 (25%), accounting for the highest number of outbreaks, illnesses, and hospitalizations, and the second highest number of deaths. Of the 149 poultry-associated outbreaks caused by a confirmed pathogen, Salmonella enterica (43%) and Clostridium perfringens (26%) were the most common pathogens. Restaurants were the most commonly reported location of food preparation (37% of poultry-associated outbreaks), followed by private homes (25%), and catering facilities (13%). The most commonly reported factors contributing to poultry-associated outbreaks were food-handling errors (64%) and inadequate cooking (53%). Effective measures to reduce poultry contamination, promote safe food-handling practices, and ensure food handlers do not work while ill could reduce poultry-associated outbreaks and illnesses.

Varying Influences of Motivation Factors on Employees' Likelihood To Perform Safe Food Handling Practices Because of Demographic Differences

2010 ◽  
Vol 73 (11) ◽  
pp. 2065-2071 ◽  
Author(s):  
JASON D. ELLIS ◽  
SUSAN W. ARENDT ◽  
CATHERINE H. STROHBEHN ◽  
JANELL MEYER ◽  
PAOLA PAEZ
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Food Service ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Service Employees ◽  
Motivation Factors ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Safe Food ◽  
Food Service Employees ◽  
Food Handling Practices

Food safety training has been the primary avenue for ensuring food workers are performing proper food handling practices and thus, serving safe food. Yet, knowledge of safe food handling practices does not necessarily result in actual performance of these practices. This research identified participating food service employees' level of agreement with four factors of motivation (internal motivations, communication, reward-punishment, and resources) and determined if respondents with different demographic characteristics reported different motivating factors. Data were collected from 311 food service employees who did not have any supervisory responsibilities. Intrinsic motivation agreement scores were consistently the highest of all four motivational factors evaluated and did not differ across any of the demographic characteristics considered. In contrast, motivation agreement scores for communication, reward-punishment, and resources did differ based on respondents' gender, age, place of employment, job status, food service experience, completion of food handler course, or possession of a food safety certification. In general, respondents agreed that these motivation factors influenced their likelihood to perform various safe food handling procedures. This research begins to illustrate how employees' demographic characteristics influence their responses to various motivators, helping to clarify the complex situation of ensuring safe food in retail establishments. Future research into why employee willingness to perform varies more for extrinsic motivation than for intrinsic motivation could assist food service managers in structuring employee development programs and the work environment, in a manner that aids in improving external motivation (communication, reward-punishment, and resources) and capitalizing on internal motivation.

scholarly journals Dietary behaviors, food accessibility, and handling practices during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Benin

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. S8-S18
Author(s):  
Polycarpe Ulbad Tougan ◽  
Eléonore Yayi-Ladekan ◽  
Ibrahim Imorou-Toko ◽  
Detondji Camille Guidime ◽  
André Thewis
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Access ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Dietary Behaviors ◽  
Local Market ◽  
Factorial Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Food Accessibility ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Food Handling Practices

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is already affecting all food systems in sub-Saharan Africa including Benin. Aim: The study aimed to determine the dietary behaviors, food accessibility, and handling practices during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Benin and the relationship between these components. Methods: A survey was carried out with 600 respondents in Benin. Data collected were analyzed using SAS and R statistical software. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on the characteristics of the households and their food access, utilization, and handling practices on the most significant components of AFC was then performed. Results: It comes out from the study that hunger and food security levels from 2000 to 2019 in Benin remain unsatisfying and inadequate. This situation had been exacerbated by the new coronavirus pandemic. About food access during COVID-19, 80% of respondents found that their dietary needs had been challenged by the COVID-19 restriction measures. This challenge affects infants as well as children, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, elderly people, and people with a chronic disease. Overall, the price of the food products had increased on the local market, and this change in the price limit the ability of 80% of households to acquire sufficient and safe food. The factorial correspondence analysis of the dietary behaviors and food handling practices during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Benin discriminated three groups of households corresponding to 3 types of dietary behaviors and food handling practices. Conclusion: Preservation of food values chain, improvement of food environment in Benin, and nutritional support of low-resilient populations should be the main way to mitigate impacts of COVID-19 on food security, nutrition, and food safety. Keywords: Benin, dietary behaviors, food access, hygiene, SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals LOW LEVEL OF FOOD HANDLING PRACTICES AMONG FOOD-HANDLERS IN SELECTED RESTAURANTS IN GGABA KAMPALA, MAKINDYE DIVISION UGANDA: AN IMPLICATION FOR SAFTETY TRAINING AND REGULATION

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (08) ◽  
pp. 929-939
Author(s):  
Ismail Bamidele Afolabi ◽  
◽  
Abdul Mujeeb Babatunde Aremu ◽  
Ada Abaku ◽  
Shamsuddeen Suleiman Yahaya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Food Handlers ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Safe Food ◽  
Food Handling Practices

Background: Food borne diseases remain a major global public health issue with increased morbidity and mortality associated with consuming contaminated food material mostly predicted by the food handlers level of hygiene during the course of food preparations.This study assessed the level of food-handling behaviors among food-handlers in selected Restaurants in Ggaba, Kampala and determined whether demographic characteristics predict the risk of food-borne diseases. Methodology: The study was a food vendor-based cross-sectional study employing a researcher administered questionnaire to capturepertinent data on the food handling practices among 286 randomly selected participants measured on a 4-point likert scale responses. The variable items were computed together using SPSS version 25 to assess the score levelreported using simple descriptive statistics and further binary categorization was done for all the variables to explore the demographic predictors of poor food-handling behaviors using logistic regression. Analysis of variance was used to test differences in the level of food-handling practices across demographic characteristics at a cut-off of (p≤0.05) level of significance. Results: It was found out that the level of safe food handling practices measured on 18-point reference scale reported a mean score of 6.62 (CI= 6.33±6.90)and SD of ±2.45, denoting 37% of the complete safe food-handling practices expected from the respondents. Categorically, the findings showed that less than half of the respondents (43.4%) displayed good safe food-handling behavior. Older respondents (≥ 61 years) and food-handlers with primary educational attainment among others insignificantly demonstrated the poorest scores for safe food-handling behaviors. It was further observed that male respondents displayed the lowest score for safe food-handling practices (F=4.039, p=0.045). Similarly, at bivariate level, male respondents are 1.8 times more likely to display poor food-handling practice compared to females (AOR=1.8, 95% CI=1.07±3.08) whereas at multivariate level, no significant demographic predictor was found out.The findings further showed that less than half of the respondents (41%)self-reported to initiate hand washing most of the timebefore handling food, while only 1 in every 3 respondentssometimes employ hand gloves during food-handling procedure, more than two-third of the respondents (71.7%) do not always put on a face mask while handling food. By gender, 71% of them were Females of 40 years of age or below and 4 out every 5 participants (89.5%) had primary educational attainment or below. Conclusions: The study indicated a poor and unsatisfactory low level of Food-Handling Practices among Food-Handlers in the region mainly predicted by the gender of the respondents, and raised the need for personalized health education and training on safe handling of food as well as improved sanitation and personal hygienein order to avert potential health threats to consumers.

Discovery and Development of Educational Strategies To Encourage Safe Food Handling Behaviors in Cancer Patients

2008 ◽  
Vol 71 (8) ◽  
pp. 1666-1672 ◽  
Author(s):  
LYDIA C. MEDEIROS ◽  
GANG CHEN ◽  
VIRGINIA N. HILLERS ◽  
PATRICIA A. KENDALL
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Educational Resource ◽  
Food Handling ◽  
Handling Practices ◽  
Safe Food ◽  
Food Handling Practices ◽  
Risk Reducing ◽  
Foodborne Infections

Foodborne infections pose a threat to cancer patients who are immunocompromised because of disease or medical therapy. Comprehensive food safety education can raise cancer patients' awareness of risk for foodborne infections and encourage risk-reducing behavior. The objectives of this study were to assess food safety informational needs of cancer patients and to determine factors that may influence prospective educational interventions that foster risk-reducing behaviors. Focus groups with cancer patients were formed, and interviews with health professionals working with cancer patients were conducted. Findings were used to develop three educational resource prototypes for cancer patients. Information from two additional focus groups and interviews with cancer patients was used to evaluate the prototypes before revision and finalization. There was a general awareness among focus group participants that chemotherapy increased their susceptibility to foodborne illness and infections. Participants had a basic knowledge of safe food handling practices but did not necessarily link their awareness of increased susceptibility for infection with their routine food handling practices. When informed of specific high-risk foods, there was skepticism about compliance due to disbelief of the risk, personal preferences for the high-risk food, and lack of information about how to use the recommendation. Most of the health care providers agreed that food safety information should be provided by dietitians, physicians, and nurses, but physicians stated they had little time to do so. Cancer patients expressed positive attitudes toward the educational resource prototypes and willingness to follow the food safety recommendations provided.

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