A Study on Causal Relationship between Food Handler’s Awareness and Safe Food Handling Practices in Malaysia

Abstract

This study analyzes the food handler’s awareness towards safe practices in food handling. 322 food handlers from Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia have been given structured questionnaire. Two different dimensions to identify awareness towards safe practice in food handling are knowledge and general perception on safe food handling. Construct of knowledge divided into five different dimensions which are knowledge on minimizing risk of contaminated ingredients, temperature control, personal hygiene, minimizing risk of cross contamination and sanitation. Food handler’s knowledge about safe food handling explored to be in slightly good level. While food handler’s perception identified to be in good level. Food handlers are discovered to practice safe practices in food handling.  Significant relationship exists between knowledge and perception of food handlers towards safe practices in food handling.