Capacity building of food handlers on food safety at mass catering establishments of urban Vadodara

Dr Mini Sheth; Ms Sadhana Jha; Ms  Hetvi Shah; Dr Swati Parnami

Volume : IV, Issue : VI, June - 2014

Capacity building of food handlers on food safety at mass catering establishments of urban Vadodara

Dr Mini Sheth, Ms Sadhana Jha, Ms Hetvi Shah, Dr Swati Parnami

Abstract :

Effectiveness of Food Safety Education imparted to food handlers of Mass Catering Establishments (MCE) of Vadodara city was studied to reduce the growing incidences of Food borne illnesses. A questionnaire was used to gather data regarding food safety knowledge and hygiene aspects at the baseline and post intervention using power point presentations, 6 minutes video film and booklet during one day seminar followed by re enforcement of food safety messages after a period of 15 days. Baseline survey revealed that majority of food handlers scored poorly regarding knowledge on food hygiene (57.8%), personal hygiene (53.3%) and environmental hygiene (62.2%). Only 29% subjects adhered to personal hygiene practices. FSE ought about statistically significant improvement (p<0.001) in their overall knowledge scores (8.0%) regarding four hygiene aspects.