Consumer food handling in the home: a review of food safety studies.

Author(s) : REDMOND E. C., GRIFFITH C. J.

Type of article: Article

Summary

Epidemiological data from Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand indicate that a substantial proportion of foodborne disease is attributable to improper food preparation practices in consumers' homes. International concern about consumer food safety has prompted considerable research to evaluate domestic food-handling practices. The majority of consumer food safety studies in the last decade have been conducted in the UK and Northern Ireland (48%) and in the US (42%). Surveys were used to collect data in 75% of the reviewed studies. Limited information about consumers' attitudes and intentions with regard to safe food-handling behaviours has been obtained, although a substantial amount of information about consumer knowledge and self-reported practices is available. Studies suggest that many consumers frequently implement unsafe food-handling practices. Observational studies tend to provide a more realistic indication of the food hygiene actions actually used in domestic food preparation. An improvement in consumer food-handling behaviour is likely to reduce the risk and incidence of foodborne disease. The need for food safety education strategies to improve specific food safety behaviours is reviewed in this paper.

Details

  • Original title: Consumer food handling in the home: a review of food safety studies.
  • Record ID : 2003-2818
  • Languages: English
  • Source: Journal of Food Protection - vol. 66 - n. 1
  • Publication date: 2003/01

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