A comparative study of food safety knowledge among mobile food vendors and canteen food handlers in markets in Kano Metropolis, Northwest Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION

foodborne diseases are an emerging public health challenge due to the global increase in vended food. This study aimed to compare food safety knowledge among mobile and canteen food handlers in Kano metropolis.

METHODS

a comparative cross-sectional design was used to study 310 mobile food vendors and 310 canteen food handlers selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected by interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed at univariate, bivariate, and multivariate levels using SPSS version 20 at 5% α level of significance.

RESULTS

the mean ages (±SD) of mobile and canteen food vendors were 24.6±9.1 and 32.1±10.3 years, respectively. Majority of them were females (66.2% mobile and 61.5% canteen food vendors). Good knowledge of food safety and hygiene was found among 22 (7.2%) and 67 (23.3%), mobile and canteen food vendors, respectively. Mobile food vendors who worked for less than 35 hours per week were 70% less likely to have good knowledge of food safety [AOR=0.3, 95%CI=0.2-0.6, p<0.001] relative to those who worked for ≥35 hours per week. Among canteen food vendors, marital status [AOR=1.7, 95%CI=1.2-1.3, p=0.002], hours of food vending per week [AOR=2.7, 95%CI=1.6-4.3, p<0.001], and job description [AOR=0.5, 95%CI=0.3-0.9, p=0.008], were independent predictors of food safety knowledge.

CONCLUSION

knowledge of food safety and hygiene was found to be suboptimal among both canteen food vendors and mobile food vendors. The government should ensure regular training and supervision of food vendors for compliance with food safety guidelines.