Research Paper
Year: 2020 | Month: May | Volume: 7 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 103-109
Knowledge on Safe Handling of Food during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Questionnaire Based Survey
Ritu Geu Goswami
Assistant Director, National Institute of Public Cooperation & Child Development (NIPCCD), (Ministry of Women & Child Development) Government of India, Regional Centre Guwahati, Jawaharnagar, Khanapara Guwahati- 781022, Assam, India
Published: May 12, 2020
ABSTRACT
The recently discovered Corona virus (novel coronavirus or COVID-19) are a large family of viruses which is not transmitted through food which is cooked safely but can be transmitted through food products as the virus can stay on surfaces of the food products for several days. The aim of this study is to assess the awareness of COVID-19 among the food handlers at the family level before cooking. The survey results showed that out of 224 respondents, 88.39 per cent of respondents took the precaution of wearing a mask, maintaining social distance, carrying a sanitizer and a shopping bag. The data on hand washing revealed that about 212 (94.64%) respondents mentioned of washing hands before handling food. Again, out of 212 respondents who washed their hands mentioned that 204 (96.22%) washed hands with soap/ liquid soap and water. About 209 (93.3%) of respondents reported of cleaning the groceries and 48 per cent of food handlers used water thoroughly, 14 per cent sponge with water and 39 per cent sponge with sanitizer respectively. Survey revealed 87.5 per cent food handlers washed milk packets after buying. About 94.2 per cent i.e. 211 respondents reported of cleaning fruits and vegetables. Out of the 211 respondents, 41.71 per cent of respondents reported of washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly in water. Around 36.49 per cent of food handlers reported of soaking fruits and vegetables in salt solution, 4.74 per cent in surf solution and 12.8 per cent in lemon water/ vinegar respectively. It was observed that 94. 2 per cent washed hands after handling food with soap and water. Although majority of the food handlers followed safety measures in food handling yet there is an urgent need to aware on hand washing, duration of hand washing, use of proper agents in washing groceries, fruits and vegetables, etc.
Keywords: COVID-19; novel coronavirus; family based food handlers; hand hygiene; food handling
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