PREVALENCE OF SELECTED UNSAFE FOOD‐CONSUMPTION PRACTICES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN KANSAS¹

Abstract

Results of a survey conducted between 1995 and 1996 in Kansas were analyzed to estimate the prevalence of four high‐risk food‐consumption practices and to identify population characteristics associated with each practice. The self‐reported prevalences were 26.5% for home‐canned vegetables, 8.7% for undercooked hamburger, 55.6% for raw or undercooked eggs, and 1.8% for raw milk. Rural residents and those who had a child between ages 13 and 17 were more likely to consume home‐canned vegetables. The consumption of undercooked hamburger was low for respondents with a child from one to four years old but was high for overweight respondents. Those respondents who had higher education and a child between ages 13 and 17 were more likely to consume raw or undercooked eggs. Lower income respondents were more likely to drink unpasteurized milk. The population characteristics identified in this study could be incorporated in the formulation and implementation of educational programs aimed at changing these high‐risk eating behaviors.

Risky Food Safety Behaviors Are Associated with Higher Bmi and Lower Healthy Eating Self-Efficacy and Intentions among African American Churchgoers in Baltimore

“…These findings are interesting and novel because much effort has gone into determining the association between demographic factors (gender, age, education level, income, race/ethnicity, metropolitan status, and geographic location) and risky food safety behaviors[4], [7], [10]–[14], yet BMI and health-related psychosocial factors are rarely included among the characteristics examined in adult populations. We are aware of only one study [14] to date that has examined these relationships by weight status. This study found that individuals with a BMI over 25 were more likely than their normal weight counterparts to consume undercooked ground beef [14], indicating tendencies toward risky food consumption among overweight individuals in this one area.…”

“…We are aware of only one study [14] to date that has examined these relationships by weight status. This study found that individuals with a BMI over 25 were more likely than their normal weight counterparts to consume undercooked ground beef [14], indicating tendencies toward risky food consumption among overweight individuals in this one area. A majority of studies that examine associations between self-efficacy or other psychosocial variables and food safety behaviors are in youth and young adult populations [15]–[18], with little known about these relationships among adults.…”

“…Previous research has explored associations of demographic variables such as gender[4], [10]–[12], age[4], [10]–[12], education level [4], [10], [13], [14], income [11], race/ethnicity [4], [10], metropolitan status [10], [11], and geographic location [10], [11] with food safety behaviors. Additional investigations have been conducted to determine relationships with variables of interest such as immune status [12] and role in meal preparation [4].…”

“…Additional investigations have been conducted to determine relationships with variables of interest such as immune status [12] and role in meal preparation [4]. These studies have shown that men [4], [10]–[13] and individuals with higher incomes [11] and educational levels [4], [10]–[11], [13]–[14] tend to practice riskier food safety behaviors and food consumption practices than those who are female, less educated, and have lower incomes [4], [10]–[14]. African Americans tend to practice food safety behaviors and consumption patterns that are equally as safe and highly comparable to other racial/ethnic groups [4], [10].…”

“…body mass index), and psychosocial factors related to healthy eating (self-efficacy, intentions, and knowledge) is important to further develop this concept. Only one study to date has examined weight status with safe food consumption patterns [14], and while there is some literature focusing on food safety behaviors and psychosocial factors (including self-efficacy and intentions), the majority of this in teen and young adult populations[15]–[18] and little information is known about these associations in adults, creating a need for additional exploration in this area.…”