Food vending safety concerns: Consumer perception on fresh coconut in New Juaben South Municipality of Ghana
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
This study assessed the perception of consumers on the safety of fresh
coconut in the New Juaben South Municipality of Ghana. A study was conducted
with 35 coconut vendors and 210 consumers using purposive and accidental sam pling techniques. Officials of the municipal food safety regulatory bodies were
interviewed to get the institutional regulatory aspects of coconut vending.
Descriptive statistics were processed from the survey data. Post-harvest, marketing
and servicing activities of coconut vendors were identified as a major threat to food
safety in the municipality. High awareness of the health benefits of tender coconut
water accounts for its continuous consumption among consumers. A majority
(36.2%) of consumers were of the view that vendor operations are likely to result in
malaria outbreaks followed by Covid-19 infections (26.2%), cholera (20%) and
dysentery (17.6%). Increased awareness through education for vendors and consumers and improved regulatory functions are recommended because of the
cultural significance and health benefits of coconut consumption.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Food safety, coconut, health benefits, post-harvest activities, marketing and servicing activities, paring, tender coconut water, coconut vendors