THE STATUS OF FOOD SAFETY AND HYGIENE AT THE KITCHENS OF SOME TEXTILE ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE NORTH, 2018

Aims: To investigate situation of food safety and hygiene at 12 kitchens in garment companies. Methods: A cross-sectional study used observation and interview method identify situation of food safety and hygiene at 12 kitchens in garment companies in 5 Northern provinces. Data collection included (i) observation of kitchens and people directly processing food through the information collection form; and (ii) interviews with processors according to a questionnaire. Results: The study showed that 71.6% of kitchens at safe  of hygiene condition. In term of basic condition, 79.2% reached the general standards; sanitation conditions was 70.1%; hygiene of equipment and instruments was 45.0%; hygiene of employees was 79.2%; food hygiene was 64.3%. In general, the food hygiene and safety conditions are basically met requirements, but only 50% of the kitchens were designed to process  under one-direction principal as well as certified to meet the waste treatment standards; 25% had separate protective-clothing dressing room; 33% sufficiently had equipments for preventing harmful insects and animals. Sample storage cabinets only account for 33.3%; The kittens stored food samples is very low, was 25%. However, only 50% kittens had food supplier contracts. Conclusions: There are 71.6% of the kitchens meeting the general conditions for food safety and hygiene, of which the legal rate is 79.2%. In general, the basic food hygiene and safety conditions are met, however, only 50% of the kitchens are designed according to the one-way principle as well as certified to meet the waste treatment standards. The implementation of sample storage according to regulations has not yet been paid attention to and strictly complied with, such as the fact that the facilities are equipped with ample storage devices and sample storage cabinets, only 33.3%.