Titre du document / Document title

Relationship between consumer food safety knowledge and reported behavior among students from health sciences in one region of Spain

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

GARAYOA Roncesvalles ⁽¹⁾ ; CORDOBA Maria ⁽¹⁾ ; GARCIA-JALON Isabel ⁽²⁾ ; SANCHEZ-VILLEGAS Almudena ⁽³⁾ ; VITAS Ana Isabel ⁽²⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Navarra, C/Irunlarrea s/n, 31008 Pamplona, ESPAGNE
⁽²⁾ Department of Microbiology, University of Navarra, C/Irunlarrea s/n, 31008 Pamplona, ESPAGNE
⁽³⁾ Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Apartado de Correos 550, 35080 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, ESPAGNE

Résumé / Abstract

A survey was conducted to investigate the relationship between knowledge about food safety and actual food handling practices among Spanish university students (mainly from the health sciences disciplines) who usually prepare meals at home. Based on level of education in food safety topics, students were divided in three groups: high, which included students from Food Science and Nutrition; medium, which included students from other health sciences; and low, which included students from non-health-related studies. More than two thirds of the 562 people selected had an accurate knowledge of the eight foodborne pathogens included in the survey, but only 5.2% were able to identify Staphylococcus aureus as a foodborne pathogen. Significant differences in responses were found depending on educational level concerning the food safety topic. For food handling, up to 60% of the responses reflected accurate knowledge of proper storage of prepared meals and washing of hands and materials to avoid cross-contamination. However, with the exception of questions related to storage temperature, there was considerable difference between knowledge and reported behavior. Although 98.6% of the participants recognized the importance of hand washing before and during food preparation, only one quarter (24.4%) affirmed that they washed their hands with soap and water. On questions concerning food practices, more accurate answers were given by the older students. Women answered questions regarding cross-contamination more accurately, whereas men were more accurate in response to questions concerning temperature and food preservation. In general, students with more knowledge of food hygiene had better reported practices, but even these students reported some high-risk behaviors. These results confirm the need to improve educational programs, ensuring that the acquired knowledge actually modifies consumer behavior.

Revue / Journal Title

Journal of food protection   ISSN 0362-028X   CODEN JFPRDR 

Source / Source

2005, vol. 68, n^o12, pp. 2631-2636 [6 page(s) (article)] (20 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

International Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians, Des Moines, IA, ETATS-UNIS  (1977) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Europe ; Spain ; Sciences ; Health ; Student ; Report ; Knowledge ; Food safety ; Consumer ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Europe ; Espagne ; Science ; Santé ; Etudiant ; Compte rendu ; Connaissance ; Salubrité des aliments ; Consommateur ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Europa ; España ; Ciencia ; Salud ; Estudiante ; Informe ; Conocimiento ; Inocuidad alimentaria ; Consumidor ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 547, 35400013451118.0180