Assessment of Knowledge and Practice of Food Safety and Hygiene Among Food Vendors in Selected Primary Schools Within Sokoto Metropolis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajmhc.v1i2.8064Keywords:
Food Contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Food Vendor, Foodborne Disease, Pathogenic Microorganisms, Primary SchoolsAbstract
Foodborne diseases represent a significant public health challenge in developing countries, with contaminated food from unhygienic food vendors being a major source of morbidity and mortality, particularly among vulnerable populations, including schoolchildren. Food hygiene practices among vendors serving primary school children require a comprehensive assessment to guide health promotion and policy interventions. This study assessed the knowledge, practices, and improvement strategies for food safety and hygiene among food vendors operating in selected primary schools within Sokoto Metropolis. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 food vendors selected through multi-staged sampling from 20 primary schools across three local government areas in Sokoto Metropolis. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising demographic information, knowledge assessment, practice evaluation, and improvement strategies. Descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions and percentages, were used for data analysis. Seventy-two per cent of food vendors demonstrated knowledge of food safety and hygiene principles. The majority engaged in good food safety practices, with 88% using clean utensils when serving food, 82% washing vegetables thoroughly before preparation, and 80% maintaining clean school premises. Key improvement strategies identified included attending food safety training programs (14%), avoiding cross-contamination (12%), and maintaining appropriate food storage temperatures (12%). Food vendors in primary schools demonstrated adequate knowledge and reasonably good food safety practices. However, systematic food safety training programs, regular environmental health inspections, and the provision of adequate facilities for handwashing and waste disposal are essential for sustaining and improving food hygiene standards. School health programs should be strengthened through collaboration between educational and health authorities.
Downloads
References
Abdalla, M. A., Siham, E. S., Alian, Y. H., & Amel, O. B. (2018). Food safety knowledge and practice of street food-vendors in Khartoum City, Sudan. Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, 47(2), 126–136.
Afolaranmi, I. O. (2018). Knowledge and practice of food safety and hygiene among food vendors in primary schools in Jos, Plateau State. European African Journal of Food Safety and Food Hygiene Practice. www.whobulletin.com
Ajzen, I. (2019). Attitudes, personality and behavior (2nd ed.). Open University Press/McGraw-Hill.
Alhaji, A. A. (2023). Food and nutrition in health I [Unpublished lecture notes]. Department of Physical and Health Education, Azare College of Education.
Aliyu, M. M. (2021). Report of food poison in Sokoto State metropolis. Sokoto State Ministry of Health.
Azanza, B., & Ortega, T. (2024). Food safety knowledge and practices of street food vendors. International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, 51, 235–246.
Bello, D. A., Hassan, Z. I., & Misari, Z. (2020). Knowledge and practice of food safety and hygiene among food vendors in primary schools. European African Journal of Food Safety and Food Hygiene Practice. www.whobulletin.com
Buccheri, C., Casuccio, A., Giammanco, S., La Guardia, M., & Mammina, C. (2010). Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of food handlers in Italy. Journal of Food Protection, 73(11), 2081–2086.
Chukuezi, C. O. (2018). Food safety and hygienic practices of street food vendors in Owerri, Nigeria. Studies in Sociology of Science, 1(1), 12–15.
Dewall, T., & Alderton, A. (2023). Food associated with foodborne illness outbreaks. Food Safety Reviews, 15(3), 45–52.
Food and Agriculture Organization & World Health Organization. (2018). Codex Alimentarius: Food hygiene basic text (4th ed.). http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/a1552e00.pdf
Isaac, M., Dominic, A., & Wellington, O. (2023). Hygienic practices among food vendors in educational institutions in Ghana. Journal of Medical Research, 4(2), 16–22.
Kamaladdin, B., Arianar, R., & Afahammad, A. T. (2022). Food safety knowledge, attitude and practices among food vendors in northern Kuching City Sarawak, Malaysia. Borneo Sciences, 3(3), 95–103.
Lal, H. (2019). Food and nutrition for medical, nursing and allied science. BS Publishers and Distributors.
Leus, F. R., Mpeli, R. R., Venter, P., & Theron, M. M. (2019). Assessing food safety and associated food handling practices in street food vending. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 16(5), 319–328.
Margaret, G., Judith, K., & Paul, O. (2019). Knowledge in food hygiene and hygienic practices of food handlers at a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. African Journal of Food Science and Technology, 4(1), 19–24.
Muinde, O. K. (2018). Hygienic and sanitary practices of vendors of street foods in Nairobi, Kenya. African Journal of Food, Agriculture and Nutritional Development, 7(5), 1–15.
Musa, O. I., & Akande, T. M. (2020). Food hygiene practices of food vendors in secondary schools in Ilorin. Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal, 10(3), 192–196.
Nalugeta, K., & Bayeh, A. (2022). The sanitary conditions of food service establishments and food knowledge and practices of food handlers in Bahr Dar town, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Health Science, 22(1), 27–35.
Omemu, A. M., Edema, M. O., & Bankole, M. O. (2018). Bacteriological assessment of street vended ready to eat vegetables and prepacked salad in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Microbiology, 19(2), 497–504.
Omemu, A. M., & Aderoju, S. T. (2019). Food safety knowledge and practices of street food vendors in the city of Abeokuta, Nigeria. Food Control, 19(4), 396–402.
Smith, J. (2024). Survey of food handling strategy in food industries. Journal of Food Safety Management, 18(2), 78–95.
Suleiman, O. S. (2024). Food hygiene practices among food handlers in tertiary institutions [Unpublished report].
Umar, P., & Akonor, M. A. (2023). Food safety knowledge among domestic food handlers in Accra, Ghana. European Journal of Nutrition and Food Safety, 2, 282–294.
World Health Organization. (2016). Initiative to estimate the global burden of foodborne diseases. WHO.
World Health Organization. (2024). Overview on food safety and hygiene. WHO.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Usman Babadoko, Muhammad Salim Isah, Zulkiflu Musa Argungu, Nuraddeen Abubakar Argungu, Nasir Muhammad (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
