Sanitary Conditions of Food Vending Sites and Hygienic Practices among Street Food Vendors of Zanzibar Urban District.

Hassan, Jamila K. (2020) Sanitary Conditions of Food Vending Sites and Hygienic Practices among Street Food Vendors of Zanzibar Urban District. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The study was conducted in the Urban district of Zanzibar with the aim of examining sanitary conditions of food vending sites and hygienic practices among street food vendors. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used involving 265 food vendors with stationary food vending units. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and complemented with observation. The results indicate that two-thirds (67.5%) of the respondents were female, the dominant age group was 18-35 years which constituted more than two-thirds of the labour force. The majority, 42% were primary and secondary school leavers. The majority (59.2%) had been in this business for less than 5 years. The results also indicated that only a moderate fraction of the vendors had formal training in food safety and hygiene; however, the majority food vendors demonstrated great awareness about food safety and hygiene. Among the surveyed vending sites, 36% appeared clean, 50.2% and 42.6% vending sites had waste bin and / or refuse sites respectively, wash basin (44.9%) and soap availability (47.2%). Safe food handling practices included food covering (57.4%), adequate protection of food from flies and dust (40.8%), cold preservation of food (28.3%), saving food hot or reheated before sale (35.1%), dishing out food with appropriate gadgets (53%). Observed good food hygiene conducts included washing hands with soap before preparing food (always 63%, sometimes 34%), washing hands with soap after toilet visit (always 33.2%, sometimes 46.8%), clean finger nail (98.5%), hair protection (33.6%) and use of apron (29%). The results generally indicate poor food hygiene and safety knowledge, poor environmental hygiene, poor food handling practices and poor personal hygienic practices among food vendors. Keyword: Sanitary condition, vending sites, hygiene practices and street food vendors.

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