Foodservice employees benefit from interventions targeting barriers to food safety.
The number of foodborne illnesses traced to improper food handling in restaurants indicates a need for research to improve food safety in these establishments. Therefore, this 2-year longitudinal study investigated the effectiveness of traditional ServSafe (National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, Chicago, IL) food-safety training and a Theory of Planned Behavior intervention program targeting employees' perceived barriers and attitudes toward important food-safety behaviors. The effectiveness of the training and intervention was measured by knowledge scores and observed behavioral compliance rates related to food-safety practices. Employees were observed for handwashing, thermometer usage, and proper handling of work surfaces at baseline, after receiving ServSafe training, and again after exposure to the intervention targeting barriers and negative attitudes about food-safety practices. Repeated-measures analyses of variance indicated training improved handwashing knowledge, but the intervention was necessary to improve overall behavioral compliance and handwashing compliance. Results suggest that registered dietitians; dietetic technicians, registered; and foodservice managers should implement a combination of training and intervention to improve knowledge and compliance with food-safety behaviors, rather than relying on training alone. Challenges encountered while conducting this research are discussed, and recommendations are provided for researchers interested in conducting this type of research in the future.
York
Valerie K
VK
Office of Educational Innovation and Evaluation, College of Education, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
Brannon
Laura A
LA
Shanklin
Carol W
CW
Roberts
Kevin R
KR
Howells
Amber D
AD
Barrett
Elizabeth B
EB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005522:Food Services / Q000592:standards*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000193:education; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012147:Restaurants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult