Food safety culture in food companies amid the Lebanese economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic
The challenges to food safety in Lebanon are many and have worsened due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Lebanese economic crisis. Against a backdrop of loosely enforced food laws and regulations, a cross-sectional study was carried out in 23 Lebanese food companies on 204 participants using a valid...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023070937 |
| _version_ | 1797669753860390912 |
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| author | Zeina Nakat Vera Tayoun Samar Merhi Christelle Bou-Mitri Layal Karam |
| author_facet | Zeina Nakat Vera Tayoun Samar Merhi Christelle Bou-Mitri Layal Karam |
| author_sort | Zeina Nakat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The challenges to food safety in Lebanon are many and have worsened due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Lebanese economic crisis. Against a backdrop of loosely enforced food laws and regulations, a cross-sectional study was carried out in 23 Lebanese food companies on 204 participants using a validated online food safety culture self-assessment tool consisting of 28 indicators. Food safety motivation, burnout/job stress and conscientiousness and their impact on food safety culture were also investigated. Overall, the perceived food safety culture was “good” with a mean value of 119.1 over 140 (equivalent to 4.3/5). A young workforce, the female gender, a science background, and a university degree were associated with a higher food safety culture. The food safety culture score was also perceived higher among participants who attended food safety trainings, and among those working at the managerial level and in the quality department. In addition, the results showed that the food safety culture was significantly better in companies exporting their goods than companies with no international market exposure (121.6 vs 118.1). Moreover, Food safety motivation (mean score 4.1/5) and conscientiousness (3.5/5) were moderately associated with a positive food safety culture. However, the low burnout/job stress scores (2.8/5) may exhibit a negative impact on the food safety culture and could be related to several consequences caused by the Lebanese economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. Further studies are to be conducted to understand better the causal effects relationship. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:49:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-213a55866de1466f8ca289284ca2d07c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:49:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-213a55866de1466f8ca289284ca2d07c2023-10-01T06:01:43ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-09-0199e19885Food safety culture in food companies amid the Lebanese economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemicZeina Nakat0Vera Tayoun1Samar Merhi2Christelle Bou-Mitri3Layal Karam4Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Notre Dame University, Zouk Mosbeh, P.O.Box: 72, Zouk Mikael, Lebanon; Afnor Group, Nohra Bldg., Tahwita Highway, Furn El Chebbak. P.O.Box: 16-5806, Beirut, LebanonFaculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Notre Dame University, Zouk Mosbeh, P.O.Box: 72, Zouk Mikael, LebanonFaculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Notre Dame University, Zouk Mosbeh, P.O.Box: 72, Zouk Mikael, LebanonFaculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Notre Dame University, Zouk Mosbeh, P.O.Box: 72, Zouk Mikael, Lebanon; Corresponding author.Human Nutrition Department, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar; Corresponding author.The challenges to food safety in Lebanon are many and have worsened due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Lebanese economic crisis. Against a backdrop of loosely enforced food laws and regulations, a cross-sectional study was carried out in 23 Lebanese food companies on 204 participants using a validated online food safety culture self-assessment tool consisting of 28 indicators. Food safety motivation, burnout/job stress and conscientiousness and their impact on food safety culture were also investigated. Overall, the perceived food safety culture was “good” with a mean value of 119.1 over 140 (equivalent to 4.3/5). A young workforce, the female gender, a science background, and a university degree were associated with a higher food safety culture. The food safety culture score was also perceived higher among participants who attended food safety trainings, and among those working at the managerial level and in the quality department. In addition, the results showed that the food safety culture was significantly better in companies exporting their goods than companies with no international market exposure (121.6 vs 118.1). Moreover, Food safety motivation (mean score 4.1/5) and conscientiousness (3.5/5) were moderately associated with a positive food safety culture. However, the low burnout/job stress scores (2.8/5) may exhibit a negative impact on the food safety culture and could be related to several consequences caused by the Lebanese economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. Further studies are to be conducted to understand better the causal effects relationship.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023070937Food safety cultureFood safety behaviorFood safety management systemSelf-assessment toolCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Zeina Nakat Vera Tayoun Samar Merhi Christelle Bou-Mitri Layal Karam Food safety culture in food companies amid the Lebanese economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic Heliyon Food safety culture Food safety behavior Food safety management system Self-assessment tool COVID-19 |
| title | Food safety culture in food companies amid the Lebanese economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Food safety culture in food companies amid the Lebanese economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Food safety culture in food companies amid the Lebanese economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food safety culture in food companies amid the Lebanese economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Food safety culture in food companies amid the Lebanese economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | food safety culture in food companies amid the lebanese economic crisis and the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Food safety culture Food safety behavior Food safety management system Self-assessment tool COVID-19 |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023070937 |
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