Assessment of food safety conditions at food service premises using Thai survey form and field fecal indicator testing in Pakpoon municipality of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

Abstract

The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to investigate the food safety conditions at food service premises and the hand hygiene of food handlers in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. The food safety conditions of 24 food service premises in the Pakpoon municipality of Nakhon Si Thammarat were assessed using a food sanitation inspection form and fecal indicator testing. The fecal indicators in this study were coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli (E. coli). A total of 162 samples were randomly collected from food and utensils and analyzed for coliform contamination. Samples were also obtained from food handlers and analyzed for coliform and E. coli contamination. None of the premises achieved the requirements of the Thai food safety standard. The samples showed significant coliform contamination (p < 0.01). Notably, the ice and drinking water samples were 100% coliform positive. The highest number of viable cells of total coliform and E. coli on the hands of the food handlers were >200 CFU/hand and >50 CFU/hand, respectively. Food safety conditions and food handlers’ hand hygiene should be improved to protect consumers from the risk of foodborne diseases.