Objective: This study sort to determine the levels of knowledge, attitude, perception, and practice food safety among mothers with children under five in Lagos, Nigeria.

Methodology: A cross sectional survey design guided by a behavioral theory employing 50 item validated questionnaires to collect data from 412 mothers in Alimosho LGA was used. Variables measured includes; knowledge of food-safety, attitude, perception and food-safety practices. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 23 to compute means and standard deviation from aggregated weighted scores of items and bivariate analysis to characterize the relationship between variables at p< 0.05.

Results: Majority (68.5%) of the mothers have never had formal training on food safety, level of knowledge of mothers on food safety (8.4±1.80), attitudinal disposition (9.53±1.9), perception (28.3±4.1) and food safety practices (22.50±4.90) scores were above average respectively. The bivariate analysis shows a strong statistical relationship, knowledge (r= 0.177; p. value 0.001), attitude (r= 0.193; value 0.001) and perception (r= 0.195; value 0.001) were positively correlated. 

Conclusion: Knowledge, attitudinal disposition and perception were predictors of food safety practices. However, other variables not factored into this study may be good predictors of food safety practices. Hence, it is imperative that food safety laws and regulations are enforced by the government.

[1]    Abdullai A., Hassan A., Kadarman N., Saleh A., Shu’aibu Y. B., Lua, P. L., 2016, Food safety knowledge, attitude and practice towards compliance with abattoir laws among the abattoir workers in Alasyia. International Journal of General Medicine, 16(9), 79-87.

[2]    Ansari-larim, Soodbakhsh, S., Lakzadeh L. 2012, Knowledge attitude and practices of workers on food hygienic practices in meat processing plants in Fars, Iran. Food Control Journal, 21(10), 260-63.

[3]    Asmawi, U. M., Norehan, A. A., Saliklin, A., Rosdi, A., Munir, N. A., Basri, N. B., 2018, An Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and practices in food safety among food handlers engaged in food courts. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal, 6(2), 346-353.

[4]    Bamidele, J. O., Adebimpe, W. O., Oladele, E. A., & Adeoye, O. A., 2015, Hygiene practices among workers in local eateries of Orolu community in south Western Nigeria. Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research, 5(4), 235–240.

[5]    Farahat, M. F., El-shafie, M. M., Waly, M. I., 2016, Food safety knowledge and practices among Saudi women. Food control journal, 4(7), 427-435.

[6]    Garayoa R., Cordoba, M., Gracia-Jalon I., Sancheez-Villegas A., Vitas, A.I., 2005, Relationship between consumer food safety knowledge and reports behavior among students from health sciences in one region of Spain. Journal of food protection, 68(12), 2631-6.

[7]    Haapala, I., Probart, C., 2004, Food safety knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors among middle school students. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 36(2), 71-6.

[8]    Lee H. K., Abdul H., Thong K. L., Chai L. C., 2017, Assessment of food safety knowledge, attitude, self-reported practices and microbiological hand hygiene of food handlers. International journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(1), 55.

[9]    Lum, L., Albrecht, J. A., Yaseen, M., Litchfield, R., Ritter-Gooder, P., 2013, Food handling practices and knowledge among families with young children. Food Prot. Trends, 3(3), 358–375.

[10] Mkhungo M. C., Oyedeji A. B., Ijabadeniyi O. A., 2018, Food safety knowledge and microbiological hygiene of households in selected areas of Kwa-Zulu Natal, south Africa. Ita. J. Food Saf., 7(2), 6887.

[11] Quinlan, Jennifer, 2015, Foodborne illnesses incidence rates and food safety risks for populations of low socio-economic status and minority race/ethnicity: a review of the literature. International journal of environmental research and public health, 10(8), 3634-52.

[12] Rahman, M. M., Arif, M. T., Bakark, Talib, Z., 2016, Food safety knowledge attitude and hygiene practices among the street food vendors in northern Kuching city Sarawak. Borneo Sci., 3(1), 94-103.

[13] World Health Organization (WHO), 2015 WHO Estimates of the Global Burden of Food borne Diseases: Food borne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group 2007–2015; WHO: Geneva, Switzerland.

[14] Yarrow, L., Remig, V. M., Higgins, M. M., 2009, Food safety educational intervention positively influences college students’ food safety attitude, beliefs, knowledge, and self-reported practices. Journal of Environmental Health, 71(6), 30-35.