REKHA KAUSHIK, SHIV KUMAR, POONAM KHANNA*, ISHAN BAKSHI AND DEEPSHIKHA THAKUR
MMICT & BM(HM), Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed University), Mullana, Ambala-133 207 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: poonamkhanna05@gmail.com; Mobile: 98725 34628)
(Received: July 4, 2023; Accepted: August 8, 2023)
ABSTRACT
Global health is currently concerned about the hygiene and food safety of street foods and to formalize the unorganized sectors by providing capacity building trainings and to improve the abilities of street food vendors. The present study was conducted in Chandigarh city on street food vendors’ population to assess the impact of food safety trainings on practices followed by trained and untrained vendors for food safety and hygiene. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 387 street food vendors in Chandigarh. The data were collected using structured questionnaire derived from WHO Five Keys to Safer Food Manual. Independent sample t-test was applied to check the level of significance. Significant differences were found between the five statements of food safety and hygiene practices of trained and untrained food vendors out of 28 statements. Furthermore, there was no positive correlation between the demographic profile of the trained food vendors and their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding food safety and hygiene. However, for not trained food vendors, the variable “education” was positively correlated with their attitude towards food safety and hygiene practices. Laws governing food safety need to be updated, and new steps need to be taken to restructure how food vendors are trained. This will make it possible for food vendors to better understand, apply and maintain their practices regarding food safety and hygiene.
Key words : Street food, food vendors, demographics, food safety, hygiene