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Food safety knowledge, practices and beliefs of primary food preparers in families with young children. A mixed methods study.
Appetite. 2014 Feb; 73:121-31.A

Abstract

Food preparers in families with young children are responsible for safe food preparation and handling to prevent foodborne illness. To explore the food safety perceptions, beliefs, and practices of primary food preparers in families with children 10 years of age and younger, a mixed methods convergent parallel design and constructs of the Health Belief Model were used. A random sampling of 72 primary food handlers (36.2±8.6 years of age, 88% female) within young families in urban and rural areas of two Midwestern states completed a knowledge survey and participated in ten focus groups. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS. Transcribed interviews were analyzed for codes and common themes. Forty-four percent scored less than the average knowledge score of 73%. Participants believe children are susceptible to foodborne illness but perceive its severity to be low with gastrointestinal discomfort as the primary outcome. Using safe food handling practices and avoiding inconveniences were benefits of preventing foodborne illness. Childcare duties, time and knowledge were barriers to practicing food safety. Confidence in preventing foodborne illness was high, especially when personal control over food handling is present. The low knowledge scores and reported practices revealed a false sense of confidence despite parental concern to protect their child from harm. Food safety messages that emphasize the susceptibility and severity of foodborne illness in children are needed to reach this audience for adoption of safe food handling practices.

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Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Meysenburg R
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806, United States. Electronic address: rutabegah@aol.com.
Albrecht JA
Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, 119 LEV, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806, United States. Electronic address: jalbrecht1@unl.edu.
Litchfield R
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, 1104 Human Nutritional Sciences Building, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1120, United States. Electronic address: litch@iastate.edu.
Ritter-Gooder PK
Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, 316 LEV, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806, United States. Electronic address: pgooder@windstream.net.

MeSH

AdultChildChild, PreschoolCultureData CollectionFemaleFocus GroupsFood ContaminationFood HandlingFood SafetyFoodborne DiseasesHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansInfantInterviews as TopicMaleMidwestern United StatesParentsPerception

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Language

eng

PubMed ID

24211815

Citation

Meysenburg, Rebecca, et al. "Food Safety Knowledge, Practices and Beliefs of Primary Food Preparers in Families With Young Children. a Mixed Methods Study." Appetite, vol. 73, 2014, pp. 121-31.
Meysenburg R, Albrecht JA, Litchfield R, et al. Food safety knowledge, practices and beliefs of primary food preparers in families with young children. A mixed methods study. Appetite. 2014;73:121-31.
Meysenburg, R., Albrecht, J. A., Litchfield, R., & Ritter-Gooder, P. K. (2014). Food safety knowledge, practices and beliefs of primary food preparers in families with young children. A mixed methods study. Appetite, 73, 121-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2013.10.015
Meysenburg R, et al. Food Safety Knowledge, Practices and Beliefs of Primary Food Preparers in Families With Young Children. a Mixed Methods Study. Appetite. 2014;73:121-31. PubMed PMID: 24211815.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Food safety knowledge, practices and beliefs of primary food preparers in families with young children. A mixed methods study. AU - Meysenburg,Rebecca, AU - Albrecht,Julie A, AU - Litchfield,Ruth, AU - Ritter-Gooder,Paula K, Y1 - 2013/11/06/ PY - 2013/02/13/received PY - 2013/10/16/revised PY - 2013/10/19/accepted PY - 2013/11/12/entrez PY - 2013/11/12/pubmed PY - 2014/7/30/medline KW - Food handling practices KW - Food safety KW - Foodborne illness KW - Health Belief Model KW - Mixed methods SP - 121 EP - 31 JF - Appetite JO - Appetite VL - 73 N2 - Food preparers in families with young children are responsible for safe food preparation and handling to prevent foodborne illness. To explore the food safety perceptions, beliefs, and practices of primary food preparers in families with children 10 years of age and younger, a mixed methods convergent parallel design and constructs of the Health Belief Model were used. A random sampling of 72 primary food handlers (36.2±8.6 years of age, 88% female) within young families in urban and rural areas of two Midwestern states completed a knowledge survey and participated in ten focus groups. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS. Transcribed interviews were analyzed for codes and common themes. Forty-four percent scored less than the average knowledge score of 73%. Participants believe children are susceptible to foodborne illness but perceive its severity to be low with gastrointestinal discomfort as the primary outcome. Using safe food handling practices and avoiding inconveniences were benefits of preventing foodborne illness. Childcare duties, time and knowledge were barriers to practicing food safety. Confidence in preventing foodborne illness was high, especially when personal control over food handling is present. The low knowledge scores and reported practices revealed a false sense of confidence despite parental concern to protect their child from harm. Food safety messages that emphasize the susceptibility and severity of foodborne illness in children are needed to reach this audience for adoption of safe food handling practices. SN - 1095-8304 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/24211815/Food_safety_knowledge_practices_and_beliefs_of_primary_food_preparers_in_families_with_young_children__A_mixed_methods_study_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -