A SURVEY OF THE ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF FOOD-SERVICE OPERATORS IN THE HAMILTON-WENTWORTH REGION

Questionnaires were mailed to 500 food service operators in the Hamilt on-Wentworth Region: 271 operators responded to the survey. The survey assessed the operators, perception of health inspection services; the ir knowledge of food handling procedures; their attitude toward evenin g inspections and their understanding of Hazard analysis and Critical Control Point inspections. The results indicate that the majority of t he operators perceive the Public Health Inspector (PHI)to be helpful a nd informed. Overall, the operators appear informed on correct food ha ndling procedures. The findings also suggest that the operators did no t support night time inspections and knew nothing about Hazard Analysi s and Critical Control Point inspections. Lastly, operators reported t hat they consider PHIs to be health educators and monitors as opposed to law enforcers.