Factors affecting students in patronizing street foods

Perception of Foreign Students on Food Safety

PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH
Perception of Foreign Students on Food Safety and Hygiene
Practices among Food Handlers in Malaysian Restaurants: Public
Health Perspective
Olumide Adedokun Odeyemi
School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, National University of Malaysia,
UKM Bangi 43600 Bangi, Selangr Darul Eshan, Malaysia.
*For reprint and all corresponding: Olumide Adedokun Odeyemi, School of Biosciences and Biotechnology,
Faculty of Science and Technology, National University of Malaysia, UKM Bangi 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul
Eshan, Malaysia.
E mail: [e-mail]

ABSTRACT
Accepted

19 December 2012

Introduction

Influx of foreign students in Malaysia calls for a study on safety of food in
Malaysia restaurants as perceived by them.
This study aims to investigate perception of foreign students regarding food safety and personal hygiene practice of food handlers in Malaysia restaurants.
A six sections Likert scale questionnaire was used. A total of 350 questionnaires were distributed during this study between March 2011 and
March 2012 to the international students from 26 countries of the world in various public and private institutions of higher learning in Klang Valley,
Malaysia.
Among the distributed questionnaires, only 155 were correctly filled, retrieved and analyzed. Ninety-one respondents (59%) were male while 63
(41%) were females. A total of 107 (69%) were undergraduates and 29 (19%) were postgraduate students. One hundred and thirty-nine (90%) respondents were local or foreign restaurants. Eleven respondents (7%) did not patronize any of the restaurants. Among factors influencing choice of restaurants are closeness to residence, price of food and quality of food were the most important factors 62 (38%). Twenty-seven (28%) eat in restaurants because of the similarity of the food to that of their home country. Of the most preferred food, Nasi ayam, 89 (57%) top the list, next was Nasi goreng ayam,
14 (14%) and African food, 23 (15%). Nasi lemak was the least food preferred 3 (2%). A total of 104 (67%) respondents were of the opinion that handlers kept short nails, 91 (59%) do not pick nose, 108 (55%) stated that food handlers cough or sneeze while handling food. Ninety-eight respondents
(64%) also stated that serving of food with unprotected hands were observed.
The result of this study showed that although food handlers are aware of the need for personal hygiene, more awareness needs to be created.
Food safety - food borne diseases - foreign students

Objective
Methods

Results

Conclusions
Keywords

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discussion. In January 2008, over 256 food poisoning cases where reported in Malaysia compared with 34 similar cases in 2007 as stated by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia (2008). This study therefore aims to investigate the perception of foreign students regarding food safety and personal hygiene practice of food handlers in
Malaysia restaurants.

INTRODUCTION
Malaysia, a south eastern Asian country with over
27 million populations envisions becoming a global education hub coupled with overall aim of becoming a developed country by the year 2020.
Higher education serve as one of the tools required to achieve this goal. Hence, due to this, the government through 9th Malaysia plan aims at having 200,000 foreign students learning in various institutions of higher learning in the country. As in
June, 2011, there are over 90,000 international students in Malaysia studying in both private and public institutions. Foreign students have been said to contribute over 3 billion Malaysia ringgit in terms of tuition fees only. A foreign student is defined as any person or individual that resides in another country aside the country of origin with the sole aim acquiring educational knowledge at certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels respectively 1. Among factors contributing to high influx of these students include lower cost of education in Malaysia compared with other countries especially Western world. Other factors are hospitality of the citizens, technological advancement, political stability, socio economic development and low cost of living. Cultural diversity, stress and academic workload are factors identified alongside language barrier, discrimination, loneliness and financial constrains capable of affecting students in new environment 2.
Malaysia has been known for unique hospitality with varieties of foods and tourist attraction sites.
There are more than 200,000 restaurants in the country as in the year 2010. Type of food, method of preparation, safety of prepared or sold food and personal hygiene practice of food handlers in these restaurants become important issues since they contribute to the adjustment of foreign students to their new country of residence. Food safety can be defined as necessary steps and precautions required in food production processes, storage, preparation and distribution to make sure such food or products are safe and suitable for human consumption. Food preparation, handling process, method of storage and personal hygiene of food handlers are vital factors in safety of food. Food handlers as defined by Isara and Isah (2009) are persons involved at either point of preparation, processing or distribution of food. Handlers play important role in safety of food for consumers. Personal hygiene, health status, knowledge, attitude and practice of appropriate food hygiene determine disease outbreaks as a result of consumption of contaminated food 3. Recently, developed and developing countries have been experiencing an increase in food borne disease outbreaks 4. More than 75 million outbreaks occurred in United States yearly with 320,000 hospitalizations, and over
4,500 deaths. In Malaysia, food safety-related issues are not unfamiliar due to its public

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This study was guided with the following research questions. Do foreign students patronize Malaysian restaurants? What are the factors influencing their choice of restaurants? Do food handlers in these restaurants comply with personal hygiene and food safety practices? Do foreign students have knowledge on food safety and food borne diseases?

PROBLEM STATEMENT
Till date, no recent data or research is available on perception of foreign students on food safety and personal hygiene of food handlers in Malaysia.
Increasing number of foreign students in the nation enable these students to be potential consumers of indigenous or foreign food sold in restaurants. This current study hence serve as an eye opener as untreated and infected students who travelled back to their countries can serve as potential distributors of food borne pathogens in their environment. It is therefore of necessity to survey their perception as this can help improve food safety and personal hygiene of food handlers’ policy in the country.

MATERIALS AND METHOD
This research was carried out using a six sections
Likert scale questionnaire developed in 2011 with focus on stated research questions. The questionnaire was administered to international students from various public and private institutions of higher learning in Klang Valley,
Malaysia. Socio demographic information (section
A) was accessed with 5 questions on age, gender, marital status and duration of stay in Malaysia. The second section consists of 6 Likert scale questions relating to restaurants patronage among the respondents. Information on hygiene state of the restaurants environment was the third section of the questionnaire. It consists of 5 questions. Section D consists of 9 questions on food handlers’ personal hygiene and practices. In addition, questions on knowledge of food borne diseases and safety awareness among foreign students was the fifth section while the last section (Section F) was on awareness and practice of food safety and hygiene among the respondents. The questionnaire was pilot tested among 30 students and corrected for clarity before distribution. A total of 350 questionnaires were distributed during the study between March 2011 and March 2012. A total of

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Of the 350 questionnaires distributed among the foreign students from 26 countries around the world, only 155 were correctly filled, retrieved and analyzed. Ninety-one (59%) were male while 63
(41%) were females. A total of 107 (69%) were undergraduates and 29 (19%) were postgraduate students. The remaining 19 (12%) students were having diploma and below. The average age of respondents was 26-30. Eighty-one (52%) respondents have lived in Malaysia for between 3 to 4 years. Only 4 (3%) spent 0-6 months in the country as at the time of this study (Table 1).

155 correctly filled and retrieved questionnaire were analyzed statistically.

QUESTIONNAIRE VALIDATION
A pilot study was initially conducted among 30 foreign students to establish the validity, reliability and clarity of the questions. However, 24 questionnaires were successfully retrieved.

RESULTS
Sampling

Table 1 Socio demographic information (n=155)
Variables
Age (year)

Response

Frequency (n)

Percentage (%)

16 – 20
21 – 25
26 – 30
31 – 36
37 and above

23
77
29
16
10

15
50
19
10
6

Certificate
Foundation
Diploma
Undergraduate
Postgraduate

1
2
16
107
29

1
1
10
69
19

Single
Married
Engaged
Divorced

115
30
7
2

74
19
5
1

Male
Female

91
63

59
41

0 – 6 months
7 – 11 months
1 – 2 years
3 – 4 years
5 years and above

4
3
46
81
19

3
2
30
52
12

Academic level

Marital status

Gender
Duration of stay in Malaysia

and quality of food, 62 (38%), were the most important factors. Twenty-seven (28%) eat in restaurants because of the similarity of the food to that of their home country. Of the most preferred food, Nasi ayam, 89 (57%) top the list, next was
Nasi goreng ayam, 14 (14%) and African food, 23
(15%). Nasi lemak was the least food preferred 3
(2%). The reasons for preferred food were asked among the respondents. Safer and hygienic food 59
(38%) was the most important factor. Forty-three
(28%) preferred food prepared only when demanded only while 25 (16%) preferred ready to eat (RTE) food.

Restaurants patronage
A total of 139 (90%) of all the respondents patronized Chinese, Malay, Indian or foreign restaurants (Table 2). However, 11 (7%) did not patronize any of the restaurants. Foreign restaurants patronage 74 (43%) was high among respondents.
India restaurants were the least patronized.
Eighteen (12%) foreign students patronized Malay and Chinese 15 (10%) restaurants respectively. On the frequency of patronage, 55 (35%) eat in restaurants on weekly basis while 49 (32%) eat everyday in the restaurants. Thirty (19%) eat once in two days. Among factors influencing choice of restaurants, closeness to residence, price of food

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Table 2 Patronage of restaurants (n=155)
Frequency (n)

Percentage
(%)

Yes
No

139
11

90
7

Chinese
Malay
Indian
Foreign
All of the above

15
18
14
74
32

10
12
9
43
21

Every day
Once in 2 days
Weekly
Not at all
Fortnightly

49
30
55
15
4

32
19
35
10
3

Closeness to my residence
Price of food
Quality and safety of food
Similarity with home country food
Combination of cloness to residence, price, quality and safety of food

23
18
21

13
6
13

27

28

62

38

Nasi ayam
Nasi goreng ayam
African food
Fired rice
Arab foods
Western food
Nasi lemak

Variables

89
14
23
8
7
11
3

57
14
15
5
5
7
2

More safer and hygienic
Prepared only when demanded Ready to eat (RTE)
Take away
Others

59

38

43
25
16
9

28
16
10
6

Response

Eats in restaurant

Preferred restaurant

How often do you eat in restaurants?

Factors influencing the choice of restaurant Preferred food

Reasons for preferred food

respondents observed the presence of rodents, cats, and insects around the restaurants. Likewise, 39
(25%) strongly agreed and 74 (48%) agreed that waste bins are provided. Restaurants restroom were kept neat as indicated by 107 (69%) of the respondents. Hygiene state of the restaurant environment
Five questions were used to access response on the hygiene state of restaurants environment. Sixty-five
(42%) strongly disagreed and 28 (18%) disagreed that the restaurants were close to refuse dump
(Table 3). Sixty-eight (44%) agreed and 47 (30%) strongly agreed that hand washing facilities were provided while less than half 63 (41%) of the

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Perception of Foreign Students on Food Safety

Table 3 Information on the hygiene state of the restaurants environment (n=155)
Frequency (n)

Percentage
(%)

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

24
35
65
28

15
23
42
18

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

47
68
25
12

30
44
16
8

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

25
38
22
17

16
25
14
11

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

39
74
22
17

25
48
14
11

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

Variables

50
57
27
16

32
37
17
10

Response

Closeness to rubbish/refuse dump

Provision of hand washing facilities

Presence of rodents, cats and insects in the restaurant environment

Waste bin provided

Neatly kept toilets(s) available

cough or sneeze while handling food (Table 4).
Ninety-eight (64%) also stated that serving food with unprotected hands were observed. However, regarding the use of apron, 88 (58%) was of the opinion that they have once seen handlers with aprons. Ninety-one (58%) also stated that there is spitting around food premises by food handlers. A total of 113 (74%) agreed that handlers always appear neat.

Food handlers’ personal hygiene and practice
Keeping short finger nails, picking nose, coughing or sneezing when handling food, using unprotected hands to serve and dish food, smoking, use of apron, spitting around restaurants environment, wearing rings and bracelets and physical appearance were questions used to access personal hygiene and practice of food handlers. A total of
104 (67%) respondents were of the opinion that handlers kept short nails, 91 (59%) do not pick nose, and 108 (55%) stated that food handlers

Table 4 Food handlers’ personel hygiene and practice (n=155)
Frequency (n)

Percentage
(%)

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

45
59
32
13

29
38
21
8

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

Variables

23
35
70
21

15
23
45
14

Strongly agree

19

12

Response

Kept short nails

Pick nose

Coughing and handling food

sneezing

when

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Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

21
46
19

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

17
35
74
24

11
23
48
15

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

21
38
62
29

14
25
40
19

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

36
52
45
18

23
34
29
12

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

22
36
55
36

14
23
35
23

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

28
60
45
18

18
39
26
15

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

Dishing, serving and tasting food with unprotected hands

33
71
29

43
70
25
13

28
45
16
8

Smoking

Use of apron

Spitting around restaurant premises

Wearing of accessories like rings, bracelets etc

Food handlers always appear neat

toxins (Table 5). A total of 104 (80%) respondents believed the diseases can be prevented while 133
(85%) perceived that poor hygiene of food handlers, unsafe raw food and inadequate cooking of food can cause outbreaks of food borne diseases and illnesses.

Awareness about food-borne disease among foreign students
In this section of the questionnaire, four questions were used to access knowledge and awareness of students on food borne diseases. A total of 119
(77%) respondents were aware that food-borne diseases as illness acquired as a result of consuming food contaminated with microbes or

Table 5 Awareness about Food borne diseases among foreign students (n=155)
Variables
Food-borne disease is illness acquired from the consumption of food contaminated by either microoraganisms or toxins

Frequency (n)

Percentage
(%)

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

56
63
26
5

36
41
17
3

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

64
60
23
3

41
39
16
2

Response

Foods-borne disease is preventable

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Perception of Foreign Students on Food Safety

Poor food handlers hygiene practices, unsafe raw food and inadequate cooking can cause outbreak of food borne disease

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

Awareness, practice on food safety and hygiene among foreign students
A total of 136 (87%) of the respondents have knowledge on food safety and hygiene (Table 6). A total of 142 (91%) respondents washed hands before and after eating. A total of 141 (91%)

61
72
14
5

39
46
9
3

respondents washed hands before and after cooking while 129 (90%) washed hands with soap and water after going to toilet. Eighty (52%) respondents usually do not pick nose and wipe face with unwashed hands.

Table 6 Awareness, pratice of food safety and hygeine among foreign students (n=155)
Frequency (n)

Percentage
(%)

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

72
64
12
3

46
41
8
2

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

78
63
5
2

50
41
3
1

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree

Variables

80
61
11

52
39
7

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

83
36
10
2

54
36
6
1

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

40
40
49
22

26
26
32
14

Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
Disagree

54
58
25
15

35
37
16
10

Response

Have knowledge on food safety and hygiene Wash hands before and after eating

Wash hands before and after cooking

Wash hands with soap and water after going to toilet

Pick nose and unwashed hands

wipe

face

with

Aware of the World
Health
Organization (WHO)’s five keys to safer food

of the major challenges of foreign students worldwide. Adapting to different types of food, methods of food preparation serve as factors in considering eating food in restaurants or self prepare. While some students can still cook themselves despite busy academic schedule, some preferred eating in restaurants. Handlers of food in restaurants have been described as the most crucial

DISCUSSION
Malaysia as a nation has been making concerted effort in internationalizing her higher education globally by attracting foreign students to take one form of study or the other at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in various institutions of higher learning in the country. Adjustment to culture and custom of host country constitute one

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International Journal of Public Health Research Vol 3 No 1 2013, pp (214-222)

factor during food production, preparation, processing and storage 5, 6. Recently, food borne related cases has been commonly reported in
Malaysia7. These cases have been attributed to poor hygiene state of restaurants, poor food hygiene, inadequate cleanliness while preparing and serving food and food handlers’ personal hygiene. Health authorities and other concerned governmental agencies have to issue “warning letters” to some restaurant operators due to poor environmental sanitation 7. Siow and Norakiah8, stated that food is a perishable product although rich in micronutrients required for growth by humans, animals and microorganisms. Food can easily be contaminated via water (polluted), air (airborne microbes), processing equipment, rodents, insects and food handlers. It could be observed in this study that majority of the respondents eat in restaurants. Eating contaminated food can thereby result in food borne diseases. In a recent study in
2011 on the assessment of food safety knowledge, attitude and practice among food handlers in the
National University of Malaysia residential hostels restaurants, respondents (food handlers) only showed positive attitudes towards food handling and not to both their personal hygiene and food handling. In a similar research, personal hygiene, practice and health status of food handlers in a food establishment around Wardha teaching hospital in
India was found to play a significant role in food contamination 4. A food handler as defined by
Anant and Anjali (2011) 9 is someone who regardless of either he or she prepares, serve food or not but handles food. Personal hygiene of food handlers is very important because contact of food with any exposed part of their body such as unprotected hands, skin, clothing or body accessories can contaminate the food being handled. High level of personal hygiene and practice observed among food handlers will help prevent outbreak and spread of infectious food borne diseases. Various researchers have stated that maintenance of personal hygiene among handlers of food coupled with clean environment where food and related products are being produced and sold are important players in prevention of food borne diseases outbreak. Inappropriate handling of food by food handlers serve as breeding ground for pathogens to grow and increase to disease causing numbers if consumed contaminated10 -12. Hand washing is simplest of all personal hygiene measures to ensure safe food among handlers 13 – 16.
It was reported that hand washing is one of the most efficient and effective ways of reducing spread of food borne pathogens due to its ability to reduce gastrointestinal disease by 12 – 40 % and also 20 % of other infections especially when combined with soap hence hand washing constitute the most important factor in food safety among both food producers, handlers and consumers17, 18.

CONCLUSIONS
The result of this study showed that although food handlers are aware of the need for personal hygiene, more awareness needs to be created. More so, food premises need to be kept neat always, refuse or waste should be disposed as soon as possible while rodents, cats and insects are prevented from getting into the dining area in the restaurants or where food is being prepared so as not to contaminate raw food materials. Continuous on the job training on personal hygiene is recommended for food handlers. In addition, foreign students in various institutions of higher learning should be given more awareness on food safety and hygiene to prevent outbreak and spread of food -borne diseases not only in Malaysia but also in the students’ country of nativity in case if the students travelled home. Educational leaflet on the practice of food safety and hygiene should be provided to foreign students during orientation of new students in their host institutions.

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