Open AccessFood Safety Compliance and Challenges of Micro Food Business Operators: Implications to COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
Lea B. Milan,
AUTHOR_ID,
Abegail Feliciano,
Aljon Lusong,
AUTHOR_ID,
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Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
recoletos multidisciplinary research journal (online)/recoletos multidisciplinary research journal (usj-r. print).
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2423-1398
pISSN - 2408-3755
DOI - 10.32871/rmrj2109.02.05
Subject(s) - food safety , sanitation , business , pandemic , conceptualization , compliance (psychology) , covid-19 , personal protective equipment , environmental health , marketing , medicine , engineering , infectious disease (medical specialty) , environmental engineering , disease , computer science , psychology , social psychology , pathology , artificial intelligence
The food safety compliance and challenges of micro–Food Business Operators (FBOs) that could impact COVID-19 are assessed in this study using the descriptive-comparative research design. The findings reveal that the sanitary conditions of utensils and equipment, the sanitary operations and facilities, the monitoring of time and temperatures, and the maintenance of the sanitary conditions in the facility need major improvement to increase food safety compliance and to contribute in mitigating the transmission of COVID-19. Minor improvements are needed in the handwashing facility, the implementation of the water potability program, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, personnel disease control, and hygienic practices. Moreover, the lack of technical knowledge and time to manage and continuously improve food safety system are the challenges experienced by the FBOs. These findings are instrumental to the improvement of the food safety practices, formulation of relevant policies, and conceptualization of research in mitigating COVID-19 relevant to food safety.