title: Assessment of hygiene standards and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points implementation on passenger ships.
abstract: The level of hygiene on ferries can have impact on travellers' health. The aim of this study was to assess the hygiene standards of ferries in Greece and to investigate whether Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) implementation contributes to the hygiene status and particularly food safety aboard passenger ships. Hygiene inspections on 17 ferries in Greece were performed using a standardized inspection form, with a 135-point scale. Thirty-four water and 17 food samples were collected and analysed. About 65% (11/17) of ferries were scored with >100 points. Ferries with HACCP received higher scores during inspection compared to those without HACCP (p value <0.001). All 34 microbiological water test results were found negative and, from the 17 food samples, only one was found positive for Salmonella spp. Implementation of management systems including HACCP principles can help to raise the level of hygiene aboard passenger ships.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Papkyriazi 22, Larissa 41221, Greece.
authors.forename: Varavara
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mouchtouri
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Malissiova
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zisis
authors.forename: Evina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paparizou
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hadjichristodoulou
mesh_terms: D005516:Food Microbiology / Q000592:standards; D063427:Food Quality; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000592:standards*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000592:standards; D012475:Salmonella; D012767:Ships / Q000592:standards*; D014871:Water Microbiology / Q000592:standards; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards