Food storage and processing in Dong Anh district, HaNoi in 2018

The survey on food preservation and processing practices of local people was conducted in Dong Anh District, Hanoi in 2018. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out by interviewing 312 people. Results showed that, approximately 50% of the people participating in the study regularly checked the expired date of food. Regarding food preservation, 78.9% of people stored meats in the upper compartment of the cooler in refrigerators; 90.1% of people stored vegetables in the lower one; and 82.9% of people stored cooked food in refrigerators. In addition, 78.9% of people used separate cutting boards for cooked and raw foods; 55.1% of people used vegetable oil and 32.3% of people used both vegetable oil and animal fat. In conclusion, the rate of people having proper practice of food preservation and processing was not high. Therefore, training and communication programs on food preservation and processing methods should be strengthened.