Food safety is growing in importance as a public health concern for health practitioners and the general public. Vended foods are considered to be a public health hazard because the food handlers are often poor, have poor schooling and lack appreciation for food hygiene practices. The restaurants have a large clientele base ranging from the rich to the poor who are exposed to these hazards and thus any outbreak of food borne illnesses could be disastrous. According to World Health Organization (WHO), food borne illnesses are prevalent in both developing and developed countries [1]; and climate change is also predicted to impact food safety, where temperature changes modify food safety risks associated with food production, storage and distribution
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The World Health Organization estimated that in developed countries, up to 30% of the population suffer from food borne diseases each year, and in developing countries up to 2 million deaths per year [1,5]. Food borne diseases place an enormous burden on the economy, and impede socioeconomic development by straining health care systems, harming national economies, tourism and trade. Consumer costs include medical, legal and other expenses as well as absenteeism from work and school. For many consumers who live at the subsistence level, the loss of income due to food borne illness can perpetuate the cycle of poverty …show more content…
Similarly, in another study in Jordan, while the respondents showed excellent knowledge of food borne diseases, food storage temperatures and sources of food contamination, they lacked knowledge of proper method of thawing frozen food [9].
A study conducted among food handlers in Turkey reported lack of basic knowledge of food hygiene [10], and another study in Portugal showed that many food handlers did not seem to be aware of basic safety and health requirements to work with. Only 40.5% of food handlers identified skin disease, gastrointestinal disturbances, and eye/ear and throat disease, as conditions that are not acceptable in food handling [11].
In a study carried out in India to assess the hygienic for practices of street food vendors and determine the critical control points for safe street food in Allahabad city, found that 73.3% of the vendors continue food preparation during illness episodes, and only 30% washed their hands after using the toilets and handling garbage
The World Health Organization estimated that in developed countries, up to 30% of the population suffer from food borne diseases each year, and in developing countries up to 2 million deaths per year [1,5]. Food borne diseases place an enormous burden on the economy, and impede socioeconomic development by straining health care systems, harming national economies, tourism and trade. Consumer costs include medical, legal and other expenses as well as absenteeism from work and school. For many consumers who live at the subsistence level, the loss of income due to food borne illness can perpetuate the cycle of poverty …show more content…
Similarly, in another study in Jordan, while the respondents showed excellent knowledge of food borne diseases, food storage temperatures and sources of food contamination, they lacked knowledge of proper method of thawing frozen food [9].
A study conducted among food handlers in Turkey reported lack of basic knowledge of food hygiene [10], and another study in Portugal showed that many food handlers did not seem to be aware of basic safety and health requirements to work with. Only 40.5% of food handlers identified skin disease, gastrointestinal disturbances, and eye/ear and throat disease, as conditions that are not acceptable in food handling [11].
In a study carried out in India to assess the hygienic for practices of street food vendors and determine the critical control points for safe street food in Allahabad city, found that 73.3% of the vendors continue food preparation during illness episodes, and only 30% washed their hands after using the toilets and handling garbage