Microbial quality of food products sold by self help group women of informal sectors in Tamilnadu State, India

Abstract

The healthy wellbeing of mankind depends mainly on the consumption of quality food. These days Self Help Groups (SHG) are implementing a large number of village cottage industries, especially food processing industries. To empower the SHG women physically and economically, the present report focused on the health conditions and prevailing food safety knowledge among the selected SHG members. The objectives of the study is to assess microbial quality of food items prepared by women who are involved in food processing trade in the unorganized sector with regard to various parameters like adopting food safety and hygienic methods, food safety laws for food production. In this regard, 200 SHG women who are involved in food processing trade in Dindigul District, Tamilnadu were selected for the study. The investigator met the respondents and collected their background information including socio economic details, knowledge about food safety practices. Microbial analysis, food adulteration test were done for food samples. Food safety and nutrition education was given to the respondents and the impact was assessed by using interview and observation method. Our investigation reveals that there is an urgency to infuse food safety and disease prevention methods in this sector. Also we recommend training programmes for SHGs to improve the methods of preparation, serving food hygienically and proper packing by giving training through NGOs or by Government itself. © Indian Society for Education and Environment (iSee).