ABSTRACT
Food safety is a vital issue both in developed
and developing countries, given that food borne illnesses contribute to
millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths annually. The present study
assesses the food safety practices among street food vendors in Michael Okpara
University of Agriculture Umudike. The study used a cross sectional research
design. The population of the study was comprised of all the food vendors in
and around Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and the sample
were 228 food vendors that were randomly selected for the study. The study used
descriptive statistics to analyze the objectives while it used chi-square
analysis to assess the association between food vendors food safety practices
and characteristics of the food vendors. From the results, 73.7% of the vendors
were females, more than half (56.1%) were married, most (36.8%) had secondary
education while majority (72.8%) had no food safety training. On food safety
practices, more than half (57.5%) of the vendors recorded poor food handling
practice. The association between the food vending practice and characteristics
of the vendors showed that educational qualification, years of working
experience, type of food establishment, and- food safety training all had
significant (P<0.05) association with food handing practice of the food
vendors. The study concluded that the food vendors in Michael Okpara University
of Agriculture, Umudike had poor handling practices that needs urgent attention
and however recommends that the university’s rules and regulations concerning
choice of site for restaurant, the requirements of- the structure, standard
safety practice etc. should always be enforced by through regular visitations
to the restaurants and sanctioning of offenders to serve as deterrent.
-- (2024). Food Safety Practices Among Street Food Vendors In Micheal Okpara University Of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State:- Ezeugwu Rosemary U. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Oct 10, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/food-safety-practices-among-street-food-vendors-in-micheal-okpara-university-of-agriculture-umudike-abia-state-ezeugwu-rosemary-u-7-2
--. "Food Safety Practices Among Street Food Vendors In Micheal Okpara University Of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State:- Ezeugwu Rosemary U" Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 17 Sep. 2024, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/food-safety-practices-among-street-food-vendors-in-micheal-okpara-university-of-agriculture-umudike-abia-state-ezeugwu-rosemary-u-7-2. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.
--. "Food Safety Practices Among Street Food Vendors In Micheal Okpara University Of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State:- Ezeugwu Rosemary U". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 17 Sep. 2024. Web. 10 Oct. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/food-safety-practices-among-street-food-vendors-in-micheal-okpara-university-of-agriculture-umudike-abia-state-ezeugwu-rosemary-u-7-2 >.
--. "Food Safety Practices Among Street Food Vendors In Micheal Okpara University Of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State:- Ezeugwu Rosemary U" Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2024). Accessed 10 Oct. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/food-safety-practices-among-street-food-vendors-in-micheal-okpara-university-of-agriculture-umudike-abia-state-ezeugwu-rosemary-u-7-2