Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Consumers in Bahri Locality, Khartoum State Regarding Food Safety

Abstract

Food borne illnesses are prevalent in all parts of the world. This study was conducted in August 2016 in Bahri locality, Khartoum state, to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the consumers regard food safety. Questionnaire guided face to face interview with 120 respondents were carried out. Major food safety knowledge concepts include clean and hygiene, general sanitation, safe storage of food, proper cooking of food, use of thermometer in cooking. The results of the questionnaire showed that the most of the respondents know the importance of washing hands before handling food (63%) and also washing the instruments and cleaning of the counter just after the preparation of the meal (83%). The results of the questionnaire revealed that (50%) of the respondents know the importance of covering hands with a bandage and gloves when their hands were cut during preparations of food. About (80%) of the respondents didn`t know the proper way of thawing, and (84.2%) of them didn`t know food thermometer which use to ensuring proper cooking. In general, the respondents had good knowledge about some food safety related issues and not enough knowledge about other issues. This study recommend for Consumers should know and apply the five keys to safer food and implementing more training programs to the consumers to improve knowledge, attitudes and practices towards food safety.