The Effect of Food Safety Education and Work Experience on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of University Students

Abstract

This study investigates whether food safety education, work experience, and ServSafe® certification affect the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices of university students. The results showed significant differences in knowledge and attitudes between respondents with higher levels of food safety education and ServSafe® certification than students with less education and no certification. Having three or more years work experience affected knowledge more than attitudes. However, there were very few significant differences in practices based on the three factors thus indicating a continuing need to search for methods of producing food safety behavioral change.

Keywords:

• food safety education
• university students
• ServSafe®
• work experience