Food Safety and Hygiene Practices of Hospitality Industries in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria

This study investigated food safety and hygiene of practices among hospitality industries in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria. Its specific objectives were to ascertain food safety and hygiene practices of food vendors in Damaturu, Yobe State and determine barriers to food safety and hygiene practices of food vendors in Damaturu, Yobe State. The study design was descriptive cross sectional, which utilized a sample size of 180 from an estimated population of 285. Multistage sampling was used comprising random sampling, stratified sampling and proportionate sampling techniques. Instrument for data collection was questionnaire. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics (frequency tables and percentages) and Chi-Square (x2). The findings of the study showed that the majority of the respondents were between the ages of 26-45 years old, female with either a secondary or a tertiary level of education, and operating in Damaturu LGA, which is an urban area, compared to Potiskum. It was already revealed that greater proportion of the respondents who engaged in practice of food safety and hygiene practice are slightly above 50%. However, lack of training and law enforcement were identified as major challenge to practice of food safety and hygiene. Furthermore, prior attendance of training on food safety and hygiene and LGA of resident had statistically significant influence on the practice of food safety and hygiene. Following the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that government and hospitality industries sector through its enforcement agency should make policies and regulations to make training on food safety and hygiene practice a necessity as it is an important to achieving better quality and improved food handling practices.