Food Safety Practices and Contamination Patterns in University Food Outlets: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design and Setting
2.2. KAP Questionnaire
2.3. Food Sample Collection
2.4. Assessment of Microbiological Contamination
2.5. Assessment of Chemical Contamination
2.6. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Level
3.2. Chemical and Microbiological Contamination
3.3. Cluster-Based Patterns of Food Contamination
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| RTE | Ready-to-eat food |
| KAP | Knowledge, attitude, and practice |
| EMB | Eosin methylene blue agar |
References
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| Knowledge Items | Number of Food Outlets = 77 | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency (Percentage) | |||
| Incorrect | Correct | ||
| K1. There are six steps in good handwashing. | 48 (62.3) | 29 (37.7) | 0.38 |
| K2. A soiled wiping cloth should not be utilized for hand drying. | 5 (6.5) | 72 (93.5) | 0.94 |
| K3. Clean utensils should be stored in a covered, enclosed area at a minimum height of 60 cm above the floor. | 5 (6.5) | 72 (93.5) | 0.94 |
| K4. Participation in hygiene training for food workers is mandatory and vital. | 0 (0.0) | 77 (100.0) | 1.00 |
| Overall Average | 0.81 | ||
| Attitude Items | Number of Food Outlets = 77 | Average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency (Percentage) | ||||||
| 1 (Strongly Disagree) | 2 (Disagree) | 3 (Moderate) | 4 (Agree) | 5 (Strongly Agree) | ||
| A1. You believe that consumers gain advantages from food safety inspections. | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.3) | 11 (14.3) | 65 (84.4) | 4.83 |
| A2. Customers are consistently regarded as integral residents of your own household. | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (5.2) | 73 (94.8) | 4.95 |
| A3. Even if they are more expensive, you choose the safest ingredients accessible. | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.6) | 25 (32.5) | 50 (64.9) | 4.62 |
| A4. You consider that the existing approaches to food safety management are appropriate. | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (3.9) | 15 (19.5) | 59 (76.6) | 4.73 |
| A5. You consistently recall and follow the food safety regulations learned during training whenever you prepare meals. | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.3) | 9 (11.7) | 67 (87.0) | 4.86 |
| A6. You are willing to allocate funds for supplies or apparatus to ensure food safety and hygiene, even if it requires personal expenditure. | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (3.9) | 14 (18.2) | 60 (77.9) | 4.74 |
| A7. You are assured of the safety and purity of potable water. | 6 (7.8) | 4 (5.2) | 32 (41.6) | 21 (27.3) | 14 (18.2) | 3.43 |
| A8. Securing food safety certification enhances your restaurant’s credibility with patrons. | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (3.9) | 11 (14.3) | 63 (81.8) | 4.78 |
| A9. You are committed to maintaining high standards for safe and hygienic food preparation for customers. | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (7.8) | 71 (92.2) | 4.92 |
| Overall Average | 4.65 | |||||
| Practice Items | Number of Food Outlets = 77 | Average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency (Percentage) | ||||||
| 1 (Never) | 2 (1–2 Days per Week) | 3 (3–4 Days per Week) | 4 (5–6 Days per Week) | Everyday | ||
| P1. Store washed plates and utensils at least 60 cm above the floor. | 1 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (3.9) | 5 (6.5) | 68 (88.3) | 4.81 |
| P2. Reheat your RTE food every two or three hours. | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.3) | 1 (1.3) | 75 (97.4) | 4.96 |
| P3. Use separate cutting boards and knives for raw foods and cooked foods. | 1 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (3.9) | 3 (3.9) | 70 (90.9) | 4.83 |
| P4. Use baking soda to clean vegetables and fruits. | 4 (5.2) | 1 (1.3) | 2 (2.6) | 9 (11.7) | 61 (79.2) | 4.58 |
| P5. Wear gloves when handling food. | 1 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.6) | 5 (6.5) | 69 (89.6) | 4.83 |
| Overall Average | 4.80 | |||||
| Contamination Type | Non-Detected, n (%) | Detected, n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical contamination | ||
| Borax | 77 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Salicylic acid | 77 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Sodium hydrosulfide | 77 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Formalin | 75 (97.4) | 2 (2.6) |
| Pesticide | 76 (98.7) | 1 (1.3) |
| Microbiological contamination | ||
| E.coli on Food handlers’ hands | 56 (72.7) | 21 (27.3) |
| E.coli on Food-contact utensils | 66 (85.7) | 11 (14.3) |
| E.coli on Wiping cloths used for hands | 77 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| E.coli on wiping cloths used for utensils | 77 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Salmonella spp. in RTE food | 72 (93.5) | 5 (6.5) |
| Characteristic | Cluster 1 (n = 15) | Cluster 2 (n = 11) | Cluster 3 (n = 18) | Cluster 4 (n = 33) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Detected, n (%) | Detected, n (%) | Non-Detected, n (%) | Detected, n (%) | Non-Detected, n (%) | Detected, n (%) | Non-Detected, n (%) | Detected, n (%) | |
| Formalin Contamination | 15 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | 11 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | 16 (88.9) | 2 (11.1) | 33 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Pesticide contamination | 15 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | 11 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | 18 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | 32 (96.9) | 1 (3.1) |
| E.coli on Food handlers’ hands | 0 (0.0) | 15 (100.0) | 7 (63.6) | 4 (36.4) | 16 (88.9) | 2 (11.1) | 33 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| E.coli on Food-contact utensils | 15 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 11 (100.0) | 18 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | 33 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Salmonella spp. in RTE food * | 15 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | 10 (90.9) | 1 (9.1) | 14 (77.8) | 4 (22.2) | 33 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Z-knowledge score | 0.25 | (−0.55) | (−0.13) | 0.14 | ||||
| Z-Attitude Score | 0.53 | (−0.21) | (−1.01) | 0.38 | ||||
| Z-behavior score | 0.22 | 0.27 | (−0.86) | 0.27 | ||||
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Keawdounglek, V.; Paenkhokuard, W.; Hongthong, A.; Sinjai, T.; Puanmoon, S. Food Safety Practices and Contamination Patterns in University Food Outlets: A Cross-Sectional Study. Hygiene 2026, 6, 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene6020035
Keawdounglek V, Paenkhokuard W, Hongthong A, Sinjai T, Puanmoon S. Food Safety Practices and Contamination Patterns in University Food Outlets: A Cross-Sectional Study. Hygiene. 2026; 6(2):35. https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene6020035
Chicago/Turabian StyleKeawdounglek, Vivat, Warapon Paenkhokuard, Anuttara Hongthong, Tantika Sinjai, and Siripan Puanmoon. 2026. "Food Safety Practices and Contamination Patterns in University Food Outlets: A Cross-Sectional Study" Hygiene 6, no. 2: 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene6020035
APA StyleKeawdounglek, V., Paenkhokuard, W., Hongthong, A., Sinjai, T., & Puanmoon, S. (2026). Food Safety Practices and Contamination Patterns in University Food Outlets: A Cross-Sectional Study. Hygiene, 6(2), 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene6020035

