Food safety knowledge among Jordanians: A national study. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Okour, Abdulhakeem Mahmoud; Alzein, Eva; Saadeh, Rami; alfaqih, Mahmoud
• Is Part Of: Food control. Volume 114(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Food safety -- Knowledge -- Jordan; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food handling -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Hygiène alimentaire -- Périodiques; Food -- Analysis; Food handling; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.07
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107216
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-7135

Abstract

Abstract: Foodborne diseases is a worldwide public health issue. This study aimed to identify food safety knowledge among consumers in Jordan throughout the different steps included in the food handling process; specifically, purchasing, storage, and cooking. This was a multistage national representative study where a large number (n = 2500) of consumers in Jordan were approached randomly between May and October of 2018. A total of 1612 consumers (64.5% response rate) volunteered to participate in the study by answering a self-administered questionnaire. Chi-square test was used to calculate the relationship between the claimed safe food purchasing knowledge and risky practices at a significance level of (α = 0.05). ANOVA and T-tests were used to investigate if score differences in food safety knowledge were affected by different socio-demographic parameters such as level of education, working status, occupation and monthly income. Over half of participants reported good level of food safety knowledge. Food safety knowledge scores were significantly affected by age (p < 0.001), marital status (p < 0.001), level of education (p < 0.001), monthly income (p < 0.001) site of residence (p < 0.001), working status and occupation (p < 0.001). Overall, consumers reported proper food safety knowledge. This report provides overall understanding regarding knowledge of Jordanians about food safety. Consumers of food are lacking adequate knowledge. Recommendations for food safety authorities in Jordan concerning consumers targeted food safety programs and constitutes a baseline against which future food safety interventions could be measured. Highlights: Most consumers in Jordan demonstrated good food safety knowledge. Consumers of age group 18–29 years had the least knowledge scores. Male and females were almost equally likely to have knowledge. Income, occupation, and education had positive effect on knowledge. Food safety knowledge emerged among married, working, and food safety related jobs.