title: Food safety knowledge and hygiene practices among veterinary medicine students at Trakia University, Bulgaria.
abstract: The results from the first survey on food safety knowledge, attitudes and hygiene practices (KAP) among veterinary medicine students in Bulgaria are reported in this study. It was designed and conducted from September to December 2015 using structured questionnaires on food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices. Data were collected from 100 undergraduate veterinary medicine students from the Trakia University, Bulgaria. It was observed that the age and the gender did not affect food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) on food safety knowledge and practices among students based on the years of study. A high level of food safety knowledge was observed among the participants (85.06%), however, the practice of food safety was above average (65.28%) while attitude toward food safety was high (70%). Although there was a significant awareness of food safety knowledge among respondents, there is a need for improvement on food safety practices, interventions on food safety and foodborne diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Control, Veterinary Legislation and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Electronic address: deyan.stratev@trakia-uni.bg.
authors.forename: Deyan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stratev
authors.affiliation: Ecology and Biodiversity Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia. Electronic address: olumide.odeyemi@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Olumide A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Odeyemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Control, Veterinary Legislation and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavlov
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Control, Veterinary Legislation and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Ralica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kyuchukova
authors.affiliation: Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
authors.forename: Foad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fatehi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Applied Science, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Florence A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Bamidele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002031:Bulgaria; D004520:Education, Veterinary; D005260:Female; D059022:Food Safety; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Awareness; Consumers; Food safety; Foodborne infections; Hygiene