Consumers and foodborne diseases: knowledge, attitudes and reported behavior in one region of Italy

A survey was conducted to investigate knowledge, attitudes and related beha vior on foodborne diseases and food-handling practices among consumers in o ne region of Italy. A self-administered questionnaire was offered to a rand om sample of mothers of children attending public schools. Of the 394 respo nding mothers, 36% knew about all the six foodborne pathogens investigated hut only 11.1% correctly indicated six related different food vehicles. edu cation level was a predictor of this knowledge. A positive attitude towards foodborne disease control. significantly higher in older and more educated women, was reported by the great majority, who agreed that improper storag e of food represents a health hazard (95.7%). that washing hands before han dling unwrapped raw or cooked food reduces the risk of food poisoning (93.2 %). and that the awareness of the temperature of the refrigerator is crucia l in reducing risk of food poisoning (90.1%). Only 53.9% reported washing h ands before and after touching raw or unwrapped food and 50.4% reported usi ng soap to wash hands. A total of 75.6% clean kitchen benches after every u se and 81.1% use hot water and soap for this purpose. Only 25.6% thaw food in the refrigerator and 49.9% put leftovers in the refrigerator soon after meals. Washing hands before and after touching unwrapped food was significa ntly higher in women living in larger families and who had been informed by physicians about foodborne diseases. Educational programs and the counseli ng efforts of physicians, particularly focused to less educated subjects, a re greatly needed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.