Food Microbiological Quality and Hygiene Standard Practices among Caterers Under the Ghana School Feeding Programme in Sekyere Afram Plains District, Ghana.

Abstract

School Feeding Programmes have substantially reduced childhood hunger and improved nutritional outcomes in many countries. This study assessed the microbiological quality of food and the safety practices of handlers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) in the Sekyere Afram Plains District. Sixty food handlers from twelve selected schools participated in the study. The microbial quality of sixty food samples was examined. Results indicated that 51.0% of food samples met acceptable microbiological standards (≤10³ CFU/g), while 27.7% exceeded acceptable limits (>10⁵ CFU/g), suggesting food safety concerns. Escherichia coli had the highest mean bacterial load (9.8 × 10⁵ CFU/g), followed by Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella spp., and Salmonella spp., with statistically significant differences among food types (p < 0.05). Sanitation and hygiene assessments revealed several challenges, including inadequate water supply (25%), limited use of protective clothing (16.6%), and pest presence (75%). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of handwashing stations (OR = 0.57, p = 0.046), use of protective clothing (OR = 0.48, p = 0.035), and pest control (OR = 0.40, p = 0.021) significantly influenced food safety compliance. Although 96.7% of handlers demonstrated high environmental hygiene awareness, only 65.0% exhibited good food safety practices. Key barriers to safe food handling included inadequate training (80%), financial constraints (86.6%), and lack of personal protective equipment (91.6%). The findings highlight the need for strengthened training, infrastructural support, and routine monitoring to ensure food safety within the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP).