P-51 A cross-sectional study of the training status and of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food handlers in temporary restaurants in Barbados

Methods:  A cross-sectional study via anonymized interviewer-administered questionnaires investigating the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adult food handlers working within temporary restaurants in Barbados. The study targeted food handlers from licensed temporary restaurants at events from February - August 2023. A systematic sampling method with a calculated sample size of 461 (95% CI) enrolled every second eligible participant from event-specific food handler lists. Data was managed using REDCap (online survey and database web application) and analyzed using Stata software.

Results:  One hundred and seventy-one participants, mean age 38 ± SD years and mainly female (77%) were recruited. Most (69%) had over 5 years of food handling experience and half (52%) had prior food safety training.  Education level was significantly associated with food handling training status (p=0.014). Most participants had at least secondary school-level education. There was a significant inverse relationship between years of experience and food handler training (p<0.0001). Gender (p=0.116) was significantly associated with training. Most respondents knew that proper hand hygiene prevents food contamination (98%) and jewelry wearing was unsafe (75%). Trained respondents were 8.21 times more likely to agree that raw and cooked foods should be stored separately. Most respondents (83%) reported consistently cleaning their hands before handling food, however, 25% reported bar soap use. Trained food handlers were ten times more likely to conform to adequate nail hygiene (OR = 9.74, 95% CI: 2.15-44.06)

Conclusion: Investigating food handlers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices can inform interventions to reduce foodborne diseases from street food consumption. Findings indicate that food handler’s training is an important factor in promoting better knowledge, more positive attitudes, and safer practices among Barbadian street food vendors.