ASSESSMENT OF THE HYGIENIC PRACTICES OF FOOD VENDORS AND GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS FROM ABEOKUTA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

¹Adewunmi A.R, ²Ajayi J.O and ³Omotoso B.O.A

^1,2Science Laboratory Technology Department, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Ojere, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

³Food Technology Department, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Ojere, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

E-mail: adebisyadewunmy@yahoo.com

Abstract: The chances of food contamination largely depend on the health status of food handlers or vendors and their hygiene behaviors and practices. Information regarding food vendors’ practices is key to addressing the trend of increasing food-borne diseases. In this study, the hygienic practices of food vendors and government intervention in selected secondary schools in Abeokuta South Local Government shall be examined. Structured questionnaires and observational checklists were administered to thirty – nine (39) respondents which were picked randomly from the 20 secondary schools in the study area. All the respondents were female. The average age of the vendors was 38 – 42 years. The percentage of the respondents that washed their hands regularly is below average (< 50%). A significant number of the vendors were either not wearing appropriate uniform or their uniform was dirty. About half of the respondents do not have handkerchiefs for drying hands after washing, during coughing or sneezing. Almost all the vendors claimed to have undergone food handling training organized by the appropriate governmental agency, however many of the respondents submitted that the training was self sponsored. It was observed that the activities of this vendors were not been monitored by the appropriate governmental bodies, and this is evident in the hygienic practices of the food vendors, which was discovered to be below standard.