Food Safety Knowledge and Handling Practices of Street Vendors

A survey was done to determine food safety knowledge and food handling practices of street food vendors in Cagayan de Oro City between April-May 2014. Data on demographics, food safety knowledge and practices were collected from 50 street vendors using 26 questions. A few vendors (22%) acquired the knowledge of food preparation by formal training and only 30% of the respondents had the annual medical health certificate which indicated that they have carried out the recommended physical and medical examination, extension education, quality control information and knowledge of regulation for approval, food sale and preparation practices. Some of the food safety knowledge of the vendors could not be translated to practice due to the absence of basic facilities such as water and toilets at their vending sites. Training on hygiene and sanitation, provision of basic infrastructures for the street food industry is recommended.

 

Keywords: Dengue, demographics, knowledge and practices of community people