ABSTRACT
Introduction: Food safety and food hygiene are important as they ensure that the food you handle and produce is safe for consumption. If food safety and hygiene are not maintained, consumers could become seriously ill with food poisoning and food born illnesses. So food hygiene & food safety are important for protecting the consumer health. Material(s) and Method(s): Evaluative approach. Study was conducted in 50 food handlers in Karad city. Using one group pretest post-test design. Non-probability Purposive sampling technique was used. Sample size was 50 food handlers. On 1st day pre test included knowledge of food safety and food hygiene practices through structured questionnaires, effective information booklet was administered followed by post test on 7th day. The data was collected, tabulated and analyzed in terms of using the objective of study was to assess the food safety knowledge and food hygiene practice among food handlers in Karad. Result(s): In demographic variables found that in gender 50% were female and 50% were male 30-39 yrs of age were maximum samples were tertiary education level 58% , 52% having 1 -5 yr experience 66% were vaccinated and 54.2% food handlers were possessed training certification. The food handlers knowledge related to food safety hygiene in that maximum responses temperature control knowledge was 84%, fresh vegetables 90%, preparation of food 86%, rinsed container & equipment 80% & hand washing steps 84%. So it was increased in post test. The mean posttest knowledge score (31.08+3.02) was higher than the mean pretest knowledge score (16.50+4.40).This indicates the effectiveness of information booklet in increasing the level of knowledge of adolescent girls regarding reproductive health. So study concluded that information booklet was effective method to improve the food safety knowledge & food hygiene practices among the food handlers. Conclusion(s): Administration of information booklet on food safety & food hygiene practices was effective method for improving the knowledge on food safety & food hygiene practices among the food handlers. Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.