Food safety knowledge and practices among fresh coconut vendors

Abstract

The study examines the distribution and sale practices of coconut vendors, identifies and analyzes food safety bottlenecks associated with street vending of fresh coconuts in Accra, Ghana. A cluster random sampling technique was used in which the study area was classified into three zones. One hundred fresh coconut vendors responded to a structured questionnaire. The results showed that vendors were predominantly male, most of who were educated up to secondary school level. Many (70.8%) of them learnt the trade through apprenticeship. The vendors were either stationed at a particular location (46.1%), or moved around as itinerant traders (53.8%), with their product displayed on pushcarts or head pans. The respondents revealed that more than 30% of consumers patronize fresh coconut because of its water. Food safety challenges identified in the coconut business include potential cross contamination of packaging materials by fresh coconuts, dipping pared coconut into alum solution to preserve freshness, and improper waste handling during and after sales. Education had a positive influence on food safety knowledge among the fresh coconut vendors (χ2 = 12.8, p < 0.05). Generally, vendors’ knowledge in food safety was encouraging but there ought to be an improvement in these areas of their operations to safeguard the health of consumers