FOOD HANDLING IN CONVENIENCE STORES - THE IMPACT OF PERSONNEL KNOWLEDGE ON FACILITY SANITATION

Managers (n = 13) and employees (n = 27) of 13 convenience stores (c-stores) in the Greater Lansing area of Michigan were surveyed to estimate their actual knowledge of foodservice sanitation. Information on actual knowledge level of c-store personnel was correlated to sanitary condition of the food preparation area in c-stores as recorded by the researcher during in-store observations. Managers and employees rated only 62% and 61% respectively on the eight question foodservice sanitation quiz; managers overestimated their knowledge of sanitation more often than did employees. Of all factors observed in the present study, managers' knowledge of sanitation correlated most highly with sanitary condition of the c-store (r = 0.6540; P = 0.001). The results of this survey suggest that mandatory certification in foodservice sanitation should be recommended for managers of c-stores and that a certified manager should be on duty during all open hours of c-stores with foodservice type operations.