Knowledge, attitude and practice on food safety and hygiene among street food vendors in Kota Bharu, Kelantan

• Main Author: Musa, Nur Syazana Mohd
• Format: Monograph
• Language: English
• Published: Pusat Pengajian Sains Kesihatan 2018
• Subjects: RA643-645 Disease (Communicable and noninfectious) and public health; TX341-641 Nutrition. Foods and food supply
• Online Access: http://eprints.usm.my/49331/1/Nur%20Syazana%20Mohd%20Musa-24%20pages.pdf; http://eprints.usm.my/49331/

Street foods have become more popular in developing countries including Malaysia. However, street food consumption has correlated to higher risks of food-borne diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the KAP level regarding food safety and hygiene among street food vendors in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. This is because street vendors regularly have inadequate access of running water for cleaning hands or equipment while handling the foods. This cross-sectional study involved 246 of respondents who were the main food handlers at the cart or food stand that being registered by MPKB by answering a set of questionnaires. The participants were being selected by convenience sampling method based on the list of street food vendors’ populations. According to results, all of respondents obtained a high mean percentage of knowledge (93.68±10.99), attitude (91.19±8.89) and practice (91.19±8.89). Moreover, significant difference was found between education level and food handling training with KAP (p=0.01). Besides, there is a positive correlation between knowledge with attitude, attitude with practice and knowledge with practice (p=0.01). With regards to the street vendors, there is no significant relationship between working experience (p>0.05) with KAP levels. In conclusion, elderly adults considering that what they did over the years was correct and applicable. Although the study has achieved it aims, the researcher had difficulties to approach the respondents due to time limit starting from business hours to end of wrapping up of the cart.