The food safety knowledge of street food vendors and the enforcement of food safety policies and procedures in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Inadequate food safety knowledge, insufficient enforcement and compliance with food safety regulations, and the lack of hygienic food safety regulation resources at street food vending sites may result in food contamination risk and outbreaks of foodborne diseases. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of food safety of street food vendors and the implementation of food safety policies and procedures in Oyo State, Nigeria. This research study uses a cross-sectional survey design and a quantitative method for data analysis. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was employed, and fifteen local government areas (LGAs) were randomly selected from the three senatorial zones, with 40 street food vendors per LGA, totaling 600 respondents. The data were collected through a structured interview schedule. A quasi-experimental approach was used for the pre-and post-training assessment of 42 street food vendors on food safety knowledge. Findings revealed that 75.7% of street food vending sites had low compliance with food safety requirements, while 90% had weak enforcement. Nearly all street food vendors (96.5%) had inadequate food safety knowledge, and 80.7% had never attended any food safety training course. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.72, p≤0.05) existed between food safety knowledge and awareness. Additionally, no significant difference in sanitary compliance or enforcement was found between licensed and unlicensed street food vendors, and 85.7% of street food vending sites were uninspected. In the pre-and post-training assessment, street food vendors' food safety knowledge dropped from 85.7% to 14.3 %. The assessments show that food safety training programmes can enhance food safety knowledge among street food vendors.