Nyall Hislop|Keara Shaw
Food Safety Knowledge Retention Study
Capital District Health Authority|Capital District Health Authority
foodborne illness canada ongoing burden public health economy many foodborne illnesses result improper food handling practices food handlers greater knowledge causes foodborne illness perhaps illnesses would less impact society study gave researchers opportunity examine current food safety knowledge food handlers using standardized questionnaire questionnaires distributed environmental health officers food handlers working food service industry onsite inspections responses used evaluate immediate knowledge key food safety issues certified noncertified food handlers evaluated information also collected number years since food safety certification achieved number years experience noncertified food handlers food service industry results indicated certified food handlers greater knowledge food safety information noncertified food handlers highest failure rates observed among noncertified food handlers 10 years experience less 1 year experience results support need mandatory food safety certification workers food service industry recertification least every 10 years although study sufficiently rigorous evaluate existing food safety courses data collected provided valuable insight issues emphasized existing food safety courses targeted future food safety initiatives