Table 4.
Correct responses of study participants regarding food safety practice questions (n = 555)
| Practice items | ||
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Percentage | |
| Category 1. “Keep it clean” (49.5%) | ||
| Check the conditions of use and storage of prepackaged food (yes) | 462 | 83.2 |
| Wash cans before consuming them in case there are any contaminants (yes) | 416 | 75.0 |
| Treat changes (color, smell, taste, flavor and shape) of food by increasing flavors and spices (no) | 375 | 67.6 |
| Buying open grains and legumes as they are dry food and exposed to heat during the cooking process (no) | 80 | 14.4 |
| Use sterilizers excessively during the sterilizing of surfaces to eliminate all biological contaminants (no) | 43 | 7.7 |
| Category 2. Separate raw and cooked foods (70.9%) | ||
| Store raw chicken or meat separately from cooked food (yes) | 493 | 88.8 |
| Wash raw meat before cutting or preparing it (no) | 295 | 53.2 |
| Category 3. Keep food at safe temperatures (59.4%) | ||
| Buying foods that need refrigeration in limited quantities to avoid spoilage (yes) | 454 | 81.8 |
| Consume food that has been kept at room temperature for a long time (more than 6 h) (no) | 438 | 78.9 |
| Keep the ice molds to keep cool in case of a power outage to maintain a temperature of about 4 degrees (yes) | 353 | 63.6 |
| Keep leftovers at room temperature until the next meal (such as dinner) (no) | 334 | 60.2 |
| Use the microwave as a way to defrost frozen foods (yes) | 72 | 13.0 |
| Category 4. Use safe water and safe raw materials (72.3%) | ||
| Pay attention to the expiration date before purchasing any product (yes) | 530 | 95.5 |
| I don't buy cans that are dented, swollen or have signs of rust (yes) | 485 | 87.4 |
| Do not consume food after its expiry date (yes) | 437 | 78.7 |
| I buy cleaning and sterilization materials of unknown source (no) | 399 | 71.9 |
| I sift the grains and spices from the licorice and store them again (no) | 387 | 69.7 |
| Recently, I buy the lowest price product even if it is from an unknown source (no) | 369 | 66.5 |
| The moldy part can be removed from vegetables and fruits and the healthy part can be consumed (no) | 205 | 36.9 |
Yes / No in the parentheses denotes the intended (correct) answer