An Investigation into the Practices Food Handling by Informal Food Vendors in Koforidua in the Eastern Region of Ghana
[1]
Endurance Serwaa Lah, Department of Pre-Vocational, Seven Day Adventist College of Education, Koforidua-Asokore, Ghana.
[2]
Janet Dansoah Oppong, Department of Pre-Vocational, Seven Day Adventist College of Education, Koforidua-Asokore, Ghana.
[3]
Rose Agyei, Department of Education, Seven Day Adventist College of Education, Koforidua-Asokore, Ghana.
[4]
Henrietta Appiah, Department of Pre-Vocational, Enchi College of Education, Enchi, Ghana.
The study investigated the food handling practices of the street food vendors in Koforidua and how their practices affect the safety of the food before consumption, and consumers’ knowledge of food-borne diseases. As a descriptive survey study, fifty (50) respondents made up of food vendors were purposively and conveniently sampled respectively for the study. The data gathered was analyzed using SPSS Version 17 and converted into frequencies, percentages and tables. The study revealed that majority of the food vendors had knowledge of food safety as well as the laws that govern their operations, but the knowledge acquired through training programmes did not reflect in their food handling operations. This study concluded that some of the street food vendors do have some knowledge in hygienic food handling practices through the training they receive but the knowledge they acquired are not put into practice when handling food. The study recommends that food vendors must be educated on the importance of; certification before selling food to the public, keeping work surfaces clean, separating raw and cooked food in the refrigerator, and using separate equipment for raw and cooked food. The Food and Drugs Authority, the Ghana Tourist Board and most especially the New Juabeng Municipal Assembly Health officers, should ensure that, street food vendors in Koforidua are well informed on issues bordering food hygiene and food borne diseases and their effects on consumers.
Practices, Food Handling, Informal, Food Vendors, Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ghana
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