Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) among school canteen food handlers

The objective of this study was to verify the knowledge and practices of food handlers towards Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) in school canteen in Ipoh, Perak. The study was conducted in 14 school canteens and included 117 food handlers. Findings have indicated that good knowledge and positive practices on the prevention of cross contamination, hand washing procedures, personal hygiene and the use of disposable gloves were obtained among the food handlers. Although the results from this study were found to be satisfactory but evidently findings have also shown that food handlers are still lacking in their food safety practices. Hence, this could directly be a major contribution to food poisoning outbreak among the schoolchildren. These findings may enlighten the authority and food operators to monitor the quality control of food production in the school canteen and improve the hygiene and sanitary quality of the meals served to the schoolchildren.