- Click here for explanation of classification scheme.

To determine the prevalence of poor produce handling practices, including insufficient washing, poor hygiene, cross-contamination, temperature abuse and inappropriate storage conditions. The results will then be used to create consumer education materials that will be targeted to correct unsafe practices.

• Persons that mainly purchased and prepared fresh fruits and vegetables in the households were asked to complete the questionnaire
• The names and mailing addresses of the sample, purchased from Survey Sampling Inc., reflected demographic distribution of the United States.

Not described.

Recruitment

• A national survey was conducted in spring 2000 to assess consumers' attitudes toward safety and handling and washing practices associated with fresh fruits and vegetables
• The names and mailing addresses of the sample, purchased from Survey Sampling Inc., reflected demographic distribution of the United States.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Statistical Analysis

Frequencies of safe handling and washing behaviors were calculated and chi-square tests using SPSS (10.0 for Windows) statistical program were performed to determine if the handling behavior was related to demographic characteristics.

 

Timing of Measurements

• A national mail survey was conducted in spring 2000 to assess consumers' attitudes toward safety and handling and washing practices associated with fresh fruits and vegetables
• The questionnaire was pilot tested (N=12) for refinement, then the coded questionnaires were sent out, along with a personally signed cover letter on university letterhead, indicating voluntary participation and confidentiality, along with a postage-paid return envelope, was mailed to a sample of 2,000 households in the United States
• Before the survey, a focus group study was conducted in early 1999 to identify current methods of handling and washing fresh produce in California.

Dependent Variables

• Consumer handling of fresh fruits and vegetables; the fruits and vegetables selected were commonly purchased and represent a variety of textures and growth environments
• A series of questions was asked in the survey to assess the respondents' practices and attitudes toward the purchase, transportation, storage, handling and washing of fresh produce, pre-washed salads, pre-cut fruits and vegetables and six common fruits and vegetables
• Consumers were also asked about their preferred sources for receiving information on safe handling practices of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Independent Variables

Demographic characteristics:

• Sex
• Ethnicity
• Education
• Income
• Age.

 

• Initial N: 2,000 questionnaires mailed
• Attrition (final N): 624 respondents (435 female, 186 male)
• Age:
  • 24 years or less: 2%
  • 25 to 34 years: 9%
  • 35 to 44 years: 18%
  • 45 to 54 years: 24%
  • 55 to 64 years: 16%
  • Older than 65 years: 31%
• Ethnicity:
  • 88% Caucasian
  • 3% Hispanic American
  • 4% African American
  • 4% Asian American
  • 1% American Indian
  • 2% Other
• Other relevant demographics:
  • Some high school: 4%
  • High school graduate: 27%
  • Some college: 27%
  • College graduate: 28%
  • Post-college graduate: 14%
• Location: University of California, Davis, California.

Key Findings

• Sex, age, income and education were shown to be related to some safety-related food handling practices at a significance level of 0.05 and lower P≤0.05
• Approximately 6% of consumers responded that they seldom or never wash fresh produce and more than 35% indicated that they do not wash their melons before preparation
• Approximately 23% of the respondents indicated that they placed their meat, poultry and fish on a refrigerator shelf above other foods and 9% do not place their produce at any specific location in the refrigerator
• Approximately 97% of respondents reported that they always wash their food preparation surfaces after contact with meat products, but 5% only dry wipe and 24% only wash with water
• Approximately 20% practiced more risky washing methods. 21% indicated washing their produce before storing in the refrigerator and 19% washed produce just before storing at room temperature on the counter or in a bowl. Results from the chi-square test showed that more women indicated washing fresh produce right before preparation and cooking compared with male consumers P=0.010.
• Almost half of the respondents indicated that they did not always wash their hands before handling fresh produce, with 34% washing most of the time, 9% washing some of the time, 3% rarely washing and 1% never washing
• More women indicated always washing their food cutting surface before and after making sandwiches (P=0.031; P=0.038) and cutting fresh produce (P=0.006) than men
• People 65 years and older were also more likely to prefer information on a produce container than those between the ages of 55 and 64 years and those 44 years and younger (P=0.043)
• Consumers between the ages of 45 and 54 years were more likely to prefer a cooking show than those 44 years and younger (P=0.021)
• People aged 65 years and older were found to practice safer food handling methods than younger adults; they were more likely to wash produce before refrigeration (P=0.041), store meat, poultry and fish properly in the refrigerator (P=0.011) and wash food cutting surfaces before cutting produce (P=0.001) and making sandwiches (P=0.000) than younger adults
• Women, lower-income households, people 65 years and older and non-college graduates practiced safer food handling methods than men, higher-income households, people younger than 65 years and college or post-college graduates.

• People are more likely to follow a recommendation when they know why it is important.
• Some are not interested in safe handling information and a comparison of previous with current research indicates that handling errors persist. 
• Research is needed on effective motivational strategies. 
• The survey findings suggest that consumer education materials should emphasize safe handling practices from purchase through consumption. Educational outreach should target specific sub-populations, including men, college graduates, higher-income households and people younger than 65 years, because of their higher frequency of unsafe handling and washing practices.

Government:

Food and Drug Administration grant no. FD-400162901

This study has limitations typical of mail surveys and therefore the findings do not necessarily represent the average consumer in the United States. In general, mail surveys include disproportionally higher response rates from Caucasians, older persons and those with higher incomes and more formal education.