Consumer attitude and awareness towards food-related hygienic hazards

The objective of this study was to investigate awareness and attitude regarding food-related hygienic practices in the home. For this purpose and within a sanitary education program in primary schools in a town of Central Italy, a questionnaire was used to collect information from parents of pupils. The questionnaire included questions in four major areas. personal hygiene and cleaning up procedures, meal preparation; food storage; and knowledge of key terms and concepts pertaining to food safety. Analysis of 183 questionnaires showed either risk of cross contamination, improper thawing of food, or inadequate storing and reheating of cooked foods during home food preparation and storage practice. Particularly, 73% of respondents thawed large pieces of frozen food at room temperature; 89% did not reheat cooked food after it had been stored, 75% stored raw meat and poultry in the upper shelves of refrigerators. Precise information on the lack of food safety practices will facilitate the development of proper consumer education programs.