The knowledge of handling safe food is lacking among teenagers according to a survey.
Various food handling behaviours were studied by the University of Waterloo among children of classes 10th and 12th of Ontario high school.
The study indicated that less than 50% of the students have the knowledge of basic food handling that including hygiene of hands and measures to prevent cross-contamination.
“High school students represent the next generation of food handlers, but they are not well studied,” said Ken Diplock, who led the research while at Waterloo. “They are just starting to prepare food on their own and for others, and they’re also beginning to work in the food industry.
“It’s important to get to students before they develop bad habits.”
The observations were made among high school students studying food and nutrition in the standard food handling training program at Ontario first for three times and then after two weeks and further after three months.
The program helped them improve their skills significantly, but many students continued to engage in risky behaviours known to lead to food-borne diseases.
(With inputs from ANI)