FOOD SAFETY IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN KWAHU EAST DISTRICT, EASTERN REGION
FOOD SAFETY IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN KWAHU EAST DISTRICT, EASTERN REGION
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Date
2023-03
Authors
DORA DARKO
7201180040
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Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the food safety practices of food handlers in Senior
High Schools in the Kwahu East District. A cross-sectional design underpinned by the
positivist philosophy was used for the study. Sixty-nine (69) food handlers were
surveyed using an Observation Checklist and Questionnaire. The majority (53.6%) of
the respondents obtained their knowledge of food preparation through formal
education and training. The study revealed a knowledge and practice gap in food
safety, particularly in defrosting frozen foods. Respondents in surveyed boarding
secondary schools in the Kwahu-East District had an appreciable practice regarding
food safety, but their knowledge was below their practice level when comparing the
means. Environmental hygiene (5.00(0.00)), food hygiene (4.6(0.00)), and Health and
personal Hygiene (3.12 (0.04)) were the three major domains where respondents
showed relatively good practices. The study also identified various factors that hinder
the implementation of appropriate food safety measures, including defective and insufficient equipment and supplies, irregular water supply, minimal space, an open
kitchen layout, and a busy work schedule. The study further revealed poor personal
hygiene of food handlers (46%), inadequate cleaning of cooking materials (25%),
dirty kitchens (10%), and poor disposal practices of garbage (19%) as sources of food
contamination in student-served foods. The study recommends that the Kwahu-East
District Assembly and School Administrators take necessary steps to enhance food
safety practices among food handlers in the Senior High Schools in the district to
avoid foodborne diseases.