Knowledge, attitudes and practices of food hygiene among mobile food vendors in a Nigerian rural settlement

Abstract

Background: An estimated 2.5 billion people patronize mobile food vendors worldwide. Most vendors however have little or no formal education, which makes them unable to appreciate the most critical food handling practices. Consumers have thus borne the consequences when food is unsafe. This study aims to determine the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Food hygiene amongst mobile food vendors in a rural settlementMethods:It was a cross-sectional descriptive survey among the study population which comprised of mobile food vendors in Orlu Local Government Area in Imo state, Nigeria. Semi-Structured questionnaires written in English were administered to mobile food vendors who could read. For low literates, the interview was conducted in their local dialect by a trained research assistantResults: Respondents were mainly females (94.1%, n = 192) and between the age of 31 and 40 years (40.2%, n = 82). More than half of the respondents had secondary school education (59.8%,n = 122).The mean percentage knowledge was 78%. Less than half (43.5%, n = 89) of the respondents had an appropriate attitude towards Food hygiene. There was a strong evidence of association (χ2 = 15.582; p = 0.0001) between Knowledge of food hygiene and attitudes towards food hygiene.Conclusions: Knowledge levels of food safety practices amongst street food vendors in this rural setting was high however, this high knowledge was generally not translated into practice.

Public Health Risk Knowledge, Awareness And Hygiene Practices Of Producers Of Artisanal Drinks Using Previously Disposed Plastic Bottles In Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, Nigeria.

“…A soothing aspect of this findings however was that most respondents felt government involvement in monitoring production processes was necessary and were also willing to receive food hygiene training. Aluh and Aluh (2017), in contrast reported that producers of local beverages in a rural settlement in Nigeria were unwilling to take part in local Government organized workshops for food hygiene with reasons being that time spent on workshops could be used in production and sales. The study of Walker et al (2013), also reported that 57% of local food and drinks handlers thought that they could tell if food was contaminated with food poisoning bacteria by sight, smell and taste and hence did not feel the need to be trained on food handling hygiene practices.…”

“…A similar study carried out at local eateries of Orolu community in South-Western Nigeria observed that hygiene practices like washing of utensils before use when processing foods were the most commonly practiced form of hygiene (Bamidele et al, 2015). According to Aluh and Aluh (2017), the local beverages vendors in his study carried out in a rural settlement in Nigeria in were unwilling to take part in Local Government organized workshops for food hygiene. Their reason was that time spent on workshops could be used in production and sales.…”

Vending environment and hygiene practices of street food vendors in an out of campus food environment in Kenya

“…Our study findings resonate well with those of other studies that have found the majority of SFVs are women more so in developing countries. 18,19 Street vending provides a source of income for many in the informal sector more so for women who depend on this sector for their livelihoods. 20,21 Street vending enables women to contribute to their household income contributing to the alleviation of household poverty as well as food insecurity.…”