Browsing by Author "Imathiu, Samuel"

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Food safety knowledge and practices of street food vendors in selected locations within Kiambu County, Kenya
(African Journal of Food Science, 2020) Mwove, Johnson; Imathiu, Samuel; Orina, Orina; Karanja, Paul; ; ;
The safety of street foods remains a public health concern especially in developing countries like Kenya where foodborne illnesses associated with these foods have often been reported. This study determined the food hygiene and safety knowledge and practices of 345 street food vendors (SFVs) in selected locations within Kiambu County, Kenya. Data collection was accomplished through face-toface interviews using structured questionnaires and extensive observation using an assessment tool for observation of personal hygiene and food handling practices of SFVs and the condition of the vending environment. The results indicated that the majority of the SFVs were male (63.2%) with 38.1% of them having attained secondary school education. About 93% of the SFVs had not received any formal training on food hygiene and safety. Majority of SFVs handled food with bare hands (96.8%) or handled money while serving food without washing hands (86.1%). Few also practiced preservation with 78.3% storing foodstuff that required refrigeration at ambient temperatures while 22.3% stored leftovers without any form of preservation and sold them the following day. Whereas public health officers’ visits were found to significantly (P<0.0001) motivate SFVs to obtain a food handler's medical certificate, only about 27% had obtained it. These findings suggest that street vended foods sold in this study area may pose a significant potential hazard to public health due to the poor hygiene and handling practices reported.
Multinomial Logistic Regression Analysis of Factors Influencing Food Safety, Hygiene Awareness and Practices Among Street Food Vendors In Kiambu County, Kenya.
(Enviro Research Publishers., 2020) Mwove, Johnson; Imathiu, Samuel; Orina, Irene; Karanja, Paul
Street food vending is a very popular and unique part of the informal sector, particularly in developing countries. However, the safety of street vended foods is a major public health concern since poor food safety and hygiene knowledge and practices are often reported among street food vendors (SFVs). The objective of this study was to identify the factors influencing food safety, hygiene awareness and practices (FSHAP) among SFVs in Kiambu County, Kenya. Structured questionnaires and an observation checklist were administered to randomly selected 345 SFVs. Results showed that good food safety and hygiene awareness scores were significantly (P less than 0.05) influenced by education level, food hygiene and safety training, mobility of SFVs, public health inspection, and the category of SFVs. Public health inspection was the only factor that significantly (P less than 0.05) influenced all FSHAP score categories. Mobile vendors were 1.86 and 2.20 times more likely to have poor working conditions and poor food handling practices scores compared to those who were not mobile, respectively. Training and education level significantly (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05, respectively) increased food safety and hygiene awareness score whereas the duration of time in street food vending significantly (P less than 0.05) improved food handling practice score. Public health inspection of SFVs was found to be the most effective way of improving FSHAP among SFVs. The study recommends regular inspections of SFVs by public health officials to enhance compliance with food hygiene and safety standards and regulations governing the street food sector as well as scheduled training on food safety and hygiene targeting all categories of street food vendors.