Food safety knowledge and practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial content of raw meat sold at Kumasi Abattoir Butchery Shops in Kumasi, Ghana
Abstract Background Foodborne diseases affect nearly 600 million people each year, that is, one in every ten people, and their outbreaks are most common in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa. This study investigated the food safety practices among raw meat handlers and the micr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18514-w |
| _version_ | 1827284048353951744 |
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| author | Desmond Azeko Asati Prosper Manu Abdulai Kofi Sekyere Boateng Abigail Abena Anokyewaa Appau Linda Aurelia Ofori Thomas Peprah Agyekum |
| author_facet | Desmond Azeko Asati Prosper Manu Abdulai Kofi Sekyere Boateng Abigail Abena Anokyewaa Appau Linda Aurelia Ofori Thomas Peprah Agyekum |
| author_sort | Desmond Azeko Asati |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Foodborne diseases affect nearly 600 million people each year, that is, one in every ten people, and their outbreaks are most common in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa. This study investigated the food safety practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial quality of the meat from the butchery shops in Kumasi Abattoir, Ghana. Methods This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study and collected quantitative data on factors associated with food safety and hygienic practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial quality of the raw meat using a structured questionnaire and standard laboratory methods, respectively. The study used all 50 beef vending shops in the butchery for questionnaire aspect and fresh beef samples were obtained from 10 vendors in the butchery shop. Appropriate methods were followed to analyse questionnaire data and meat samples. Results Most of the butchers (72%) were between the ages of 31 and 45, and they were predominantly Muslims (68%). Most of the respondents (48%) had basic education. All the respondents had food safety certificates from the local authority but needed adequate knowledge of meat safety. Most respondents (90%) handled meat and money with the same bare hands, thus contaminating the meat. The study showed that the maximum Total Viable Count (TVC), Total Staphylococcus Count (TSC), and Total Escherichia coli Count (TEC) were 5.60, 4.39 and 5.13 cfu/g, respectively. The study also revealed that all the meat samples were Salmonella species-free. Conclusions Microorganisms in raw beef indicate a public health hazard. It gives a signal of a possible occurrence of food-borne intoxication and infection if not controlled. Environmental health officers in the Greater Kumasi area should organize food safety training and educate raw meat handlers on the importance of food safety and its consequences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:48:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cafbaed515d94498ae95045659ec4d4a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:48:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-cafbaed515d94498ae95045659ec4d4a2024-04-14T11:31:26ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-04-0124111310.1186/s12889-024-18514-wFood safety knowledge and practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial content of raw meat sold at Kumasi Abattoir Butchery Shops in Kumasi, GhanaDesmond Azeko Asati0Prosper Manu Abdulai1Kofi Sekyere Boateng2Abigail Abena Anokyewaa Appau3Linda Aurelia Ofori4Thomas Peprah Agyekum5Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Foodborne diseases affect nearly 600 million people each year, that is, one in every ten people, and their outbreaks are most common in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa. This study investigated the food safety practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial quality of the meat from the butchery shops in Kumasi Abattoir, Ghana. Methods This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study and collected quantitative data on factors associated with food safety and hygienic practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial quality of the raw meat using a structured questionnaire and standard laboratory methods, respectively. The study used all 50 beef vending shops in the butchery for questionnaire aspect and fresh beef samples were obtained from 10 vendors in the butchery shop. Appropriate methods were followed to analyse questionnaire data and meat samples. Results Most of the butchers (72%) were between the ages of 31 and 45, and they were predominantly Muslims (68%). Most of the respondents (48%) had basic education. All the respondents had food safety certificates from the local authority but needed adequate knowledge of meat safety. Most respondents (90%) handled meat and money with the same bare hands, thus contaminating the meat. The study showed that the maximum Total Viable Count (TVC), Total Staphylococcus Count (TSC), and Total Escherichia coli Count (TEC) were 5.60, 4.39 and 5.13 cfu/g, respectively. The study also revealed that all the meat samples were Salmonella species-free. Conclusions Microorganisms in raw beef indicate a public health hazard. It gives a signal of a possible occurrence of food-borne intoxication and infection if not controlled. Environmental health officers in the Greater Kumasi area should organize food safety training and educate raw meat handlers on the importance of food safety and its consequences.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18514-wFood safetyFoodborne illnessAbattoirMeat safetyMeat handlerSlaughter stock |
| spellingShingle | Desmond Azeko Asati Prosper Manu Abdulai Kofi Sekyere Boateng Abigail Abena Anokyewaa Appau Linda Aurelia Ofori Thomas Peprah Agyekum Food safety knowledge and practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial content of raw meat sold at Kumasi Abattoir Butchery Shops in Kumasi, Ghana BMC Public Health Food safety Foodborne illness Abattoir Meat safety Meat handler Slaughter stock |
| title | Food safety knowledge and practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial content of raw meat sold at Kumasi Abattoir Butchery Shops in Kumasi, Ghana |
| title_full | Food safety knowledge and practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial content of raw meat sold at Kumasi Abattoir Butchery Shops in Kumasi, Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Food safety knowledge and practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial content of raw meat sold at Kumasi Abattoir Butchery Shops in Kumasi, Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food safety knowledge and practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial content of raw meat sold at Kumasi Abattoir Butchery Shops in Kumasi, Ghana |
| title_short | Food safety knowledge and practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial content of raw meat sold at Kumasi Abattoir Butchery Shops in Kumasi, Ghana |
| title_sort | food safety knowledge and practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial content of raw meat sold at kumasi abattoir butchery shops in kumasi ghana |
| topic | Food safety Foodborne illness Abattoir Meat safety Meat handler Slaughter stock |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18514-w |
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