SANITATION PRACTICES AMONG UCLM CANTEEN CONCESSIONAIRES: A SELF-EVALUATION SURVEY

Abstract

In a university, it is a must for canteen operators or concessionaires that there will be proper sanitation in relation to food preparation and handling. Moreover, good hygiene and safe water are also essential to ensure good health and safe eating of the customers. Sanitation is very important in order to keep good health. The lack of these important components may cause many diseases and the spread of it. Foodborne disease is a common, but preventable, burden of illness worldwide. In line with this, it is critical for the researchers to do action, focusing on preventing disease transmission within the food industry. Hence, the researchers wanted to find out the sanitation practices of UCLM Canteen Concessionaires.

The study determined the sanitation practices among UCLM canteen concessionaires. The findings of which served as the basis for the proposed action plan. Specifically, this study profiled the respondents in terms of Age, Gender, Educational Attainment and Health Clearance. It also determined the Sanitation Practices used by the respondents and the relationship between the respondents’ profile and the sanitation practices used; and the proposed action plan.

Descriptive Correlational design was used. The statistical tools that were utilized in this study were Simple Percentage, Weighted Mean and Chi Square. The respondents of the study were the UCLM Canteen Concessionaires. There were 15 canteens and a total of 44 canteen staff in the university.

Majority of the respondent’s belonged to 21 to 35 years old. Majority were female and most are high school graduates. All of the canteen concessionaires used proper sanitation practices. Findings revealed there is no significant relationship between the respondent’s profile and the sanitation practices since sanitation practice is constant and all of them practiced proper sanitation. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between profile of the respondents and the sanitation practices.

Based on the findings, the researchers recommend the following: (A) a health teaching program must be done to strengthen the knowledge and enhance the sanitation practices of the UCLM canteen concessionaires; (B) student’s affairs office should be informed of the action plan proposed; (C) and future researchers can continue to conduct a study regarding the sanitation practices of UCLM canteen concessionaires and have the teaching and non-teaching personnel, visitors and students as the respondents of the study.