Cross-sectional study on food safety knowledge, attitude and practices of male food handlers employed in restaurants of King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

- Male food handlers in KSU were surveyed for food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices.
- Workers of all nationalities have good knowledge of personal hygiene, food borne diseases and cross contamination.
- Food handler's attitudes towards food safety were found to be favorable.
- Positive correlation was found between knowledge, attitude, hygiene and training.

The present cross sectional study was conducted on 87 food handlers employed in the King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA to evaluate their food safety knowledge, attitude and practices. Present data highlights that most of the workers belonging to different nationalities have good knowledge regarding personal hygiene, food borne diseases and cross contamination related to food safety. The results show that the food handlers had excellent practices towards food and personal hygiene. Attitude is also a crucial factor that influences food safety, food handlers attitudes were favorable with total of mean scores being 80.76 ± 18.02 and total mean score of 2.69. A significant positive correlation was observed between knowledge with attitudes (rs = 0.371, p < 0.05), knowledge with training (rs = 0.107, p < 0.05), knowledge with personal hygiene (rs = 0.303, p < 0.05), training with personal hygiene (rs = 0.174, p < 0.05) and attitudes with personal hygiene (rs = 0.173, p < 0.05). Although these correlation were positive and significant but the correlation was not very strong. The study suggests that even though the knowledge, attitude and practice level of the food handlers was satisfactory, some of the aspects related to hygiene and time and temperature control need to be stressed. Continuous education and training should be organized to strengthen food handlers' knowledge in areas which seem to be lacking.