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Food Service Operators Licensure Status: Implication for Food Safety in Ghana

Received: 24 October 2022    Accepted: 13 February 2023    Published: 28 February 2023
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Abstract

The regulation (governance) of the business of food service operators (FSOs) by the state is important to consumer food safety. However, not very much is understood of the level of acceptance of this task among FSOs. The aim of this study was to examine FSOs licensure status and its impact on consumer food safety. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design with a convenient sampling technique was used to select 285 FSOs from the 16 communities in the Cape Coast Metropolis. The data collected was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed a high awareness of license acquisition, low level of acquired license, lack of knowledge on when to acquire license and from the appropriate agencies among FSOs. Further, FSOs awareness influenced their license acquisition. Number of years in business also influenced FSOs awareness of license acquisition but not their attitude towards license acquisition. Hence, a potential adverse implication for safe food delivery. The findings provide theoretical and practical implications for all stakeholders in the food service industry. Food safety regulators, academia and media houses should intensify their education of FSOs and the general public on the need for licensing and purchasing food from only licensed operators.

Published in International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Volume 12, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231201.14
Page(s) 29-38
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Attitude, Awareness, Food Safety, FSOs, Licensure, Regulation

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Sophia Ohene-Darko. (2023). Food Service Operators Licensure Status: Implication for Food Safety in Ghana. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 12(1), 29-38. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231201.14

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    ACS Style

    Sophia Ohene-Darko. Food Service Operators Licensure Status: Implication for Food Safety in Ghana. Int. J. Nutr. Food Sci. 2023, 12(1), 29-38. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231201.14

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    AMA Style

    Sophia Ohene-Darko. Food Service Operators Licensure Status: Implication for Food Safety in Ghana. Int J Nutr Food Sci. 2023;12(1):29-38. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231201.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231201.14,
      author = {Sophia Ohene-Darko},
      title = {Food Service Operators Licensure Status: Implication for Food Safety in Ghana},
      journal = {International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences},
      volume = {12},
      number = {1},
      pages = {29-38},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231201.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231201.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnfs.20231201.14},
      abstract = {The regulation (governance) of the business of food service operators (FSOs) by the state is important to consumer food safety. However, not very much is understood of the level of acceptance of this task among FSOs. The aim of this study was to examine FSOs licensure status and its impact on consumer food safety. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design with a convenient sampling technique was used to select 285 FSOs from the 16 communities in the Cape Coast Metropolis. The data collected was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed a high awareness of license acquisition, low level of acquired license, lack of knowledge on when to acquire license and from the appropriate agencies among FSOs. Further, FSOs awareness influenced their license acquisition. Number of years in business also influenced FSOs awareness of license acquisition but not their attitude towards license acquisition. Hence, a potential adverse implication for safe food delivery. The findings provide theoretical and practical implications for all stakeholders in the food service industry. Food safety regulators, academia and media houses should intensify their education of FSOs and the general public on the need for licensing and purchasing food from only licensed operators.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Food Service Operators Licensure Status: Implication for Food Safety in Ghana
    AU  - Sophia Ohene-Darko
    Y1  - 2023/02/28
    PY  - 2023
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231201.14
    T2  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    SP  - 29
    EP  - 38
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2327-2716
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231201.14
    AB  - The regulation (governance) of the business of food service operators (FSOs) by the state is important to consumer food safety. However, not very much is understood of the level of acceptance of this task among FSOs. The aim of this study was to examine FSOs licensure status and its impact on consumer food safety. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design with a convenient sampling technique was used to select 285 FSOs from the 16 communities in the Cape Coast Metropolis. The data collected was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed a high awareness of license acquisition, low level of acquired license, lack of knowledge on when to acquire license and from the appropriate agencies among FSOs. Further, FSOs awareness influenced their license acquisition. Number of years in business also influenced FSOs awareness of license acquisition but not their attitude towards license acquisition. Hence, a potential adverse implication for safe food delivery. The findings provide theoretical and practical implications for all stakeholders in the food service industry. Food safety regulators, academia and media houses should intensify their education of FSOs and the general public on the need for licensing and purchasing food from only licensed operators.
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Vocational and Technical Education, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

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