Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Food Handlers in Attieke Production Units in Relation to Food Hygiene and Safety in Côte d’Ivoire in 2012

Theodore N. Djéni, Alfred K. Kouamé, Youssouf Traoré, Rose K. Nevry, Marcellin K. Dje

Département Santé Publique et Informatique Médicale, UFR Sciences Médicales, Université Félix Houphouet Boigny, Abidjan, C?te d’Ivoire.
Department of Food Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Biotechnology and food Microbiology, University Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan, C?te d’Ivoire.

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2014.510099                

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate the food safety knowledge and practices of food handlers and to assess the sanitary conditions of attieke production units in the South of C?te d’Ivoire. A cross-sectional study was conducted during 4 months in 2012 in 7 localities and data were collected using questionnaire and observation checklist and microbiological analysis of hands. A total of 775 attieke production units were involved in this survey. Seventy-one percent (71%) were located on public domains and only 70 production units (9%) used septic tank as a mean of final deposal for liquid waste. Hygiene conditions and practices of food handlers in attieke production units were inadequate. The presence of specific microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter agglomerans, Citrobacter youngae, Klebsiella oxytoca and Citrobacter freundi was indicative of a degree of ignorance on the part of food handlers towards proper hygienic practices.

Keywords

Attieke, Food Handlers, Hygienic Practices, Production Units

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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