Assessment of food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of street food vendors in Chattogram city, Bangladesh: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract Introduction Street food has become popular in developing countries due to its affordability, availability and taste. Maintaining the quality and safety of street food is linked to the vendors’ appropriate food handling practices to reduce foodborne illness. Therefore, this study aimed to assess food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of street food vendors in Chattogram city, Bangladesh. Methods A cross‐sectional study was carried out among 302 street food vendors from December 2020 to March 2021. Data were collected by in‐person interviews through a structured questionnaire. Independent sample t‐tests and one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices scores across socio‐demographic variables. Results The mean score of food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices was 8.99 (SD = 4.17, range: 1–18), 8.46 (SD = 3.51, range: 1–16) and 17.78 (SD = 5.74, range: 1–34), respectively. The food safety knowledge scores significantly (p < 0.05) differed by the participants’ age, marital status, income, residence and work experience. The average food safety attitudes score significantly (p < 0.05) varied by age, marital status, income, and education level. The average food safety practices score significantly (p < 0.05) differed by the respondents’ education level and work experience. Conclusion Our findings suggest that food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices were poor among street food vendors. Therefore, there is a need for strategies and intervention programs such as food safety training and awareness campaigns as well as financial support to improve food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices which help to reduce foodborne illness.