World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY ON FOOD SAFETY KNOWLEDGE PRACTICES, FOOD HYGIENE, AND AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION AWARENESS OF STREET FOOD VENDORS IN URBAN AREAS OF MOROGORO MUNICIPALITY, TANZANIA

Kija Steven Magembe*

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to evaluate the food safety and hygiene practices, as well as the awareness of aflatoxin contamination, among street food vendors in urban areas of Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania. The study was conducted from November,2024 to December 2024, the research utilized a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 76 street food vendors selected through convenience sampling. A structured questionnaire and observation method were employed simultaneously to gather data. The collected information was entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 20.0. The majority of participants were female (69.7%), while males accounted for 30.3%. Most respondents (31.6%) were aged between 26 and 35 years. Regarding education, 27.6% had completed primary school, while 25% had no formal education. Food hygiene knowledge was generally low, with mean scores below 3 on most indicators. Only 9.2% of participants were aware of aflatoxins, and 18.4% believed aflatoxins could impact food quality and safety. Furthermore, only 5.3% were aware of the long-term health risks, such as cancer. The study concluded that street food vendors in the area exhibit inadequate food safety and hygiene practices and have limited knowledge of aflatoxin contamination. It recommends providing vendors with comprehensive training and information on food safety, personal hygiene, and aflatoxin risks. Additionally, implementing appropriate control measures and enforcing health and safety regulations across the food supply chain is essential to prevent foodborne illnesses.

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