Assessment of food safety knowledge and hygiene practice among food handlers in restaurant at Ilala Municipality, Dar es Salaam Region.

The purpose of this study was to assess food safety knowledge and hygiene practice among food handlers in restaurant at Ilala Municipality in Dar es Salaam Region. This study addressed three specific objectives; to evaluate food handlers’ knowledge towards food safety in restaurant of Ilala Municipality, to examine hygiene practices among food handlers in restaurant of Ilala Municipality and to evaluate customer perception on food safety and hygiene practices in restaurant at Ilala Municipality. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, direct observation and documentary literature review. Quantitative data were analyzed using Statistics Packages for Social Science version 20. The study found that, food safety training, hand washing, knowledge on causes of cross contamination, proper handling of food materials and prevention of food related illness were the influenced by the knowledge of food safety to food handlers. The study revealed that, restaurant hygiene, quality of food received, preservation of food materials, food storage and preservative measures, method used to hold cooked food and availability of designated sinks for hand washing in their work place were hygiene practice among food handlers in restaurant of Ilala Municipality. Furthermore, customer chooses to eat at safer restaurant with well-groomed staff, proper temperature of the food and proper food handling and preparation. The government through Ilala Municipality, health department should strengthen supervision and regular monitoring of food premises to ensure adequate food safety and hygiene practices among food handlers. Keywords: Food safety knowledge, Hygiene practice, Customer perception, food handlers, Ilal