Study on food safety activities at divisional level in selected provinces in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The objectives of the present study, comprising 2 components, were to assess the level of performance of selected food safety activities at Divisional level, to determine factors associated with the performance of these activities. The study was carried out in seven provinces in Sri Lanka except the Northern and Eastern Provinces. In component 1, the performance of selected food safety activities in 199 MOH areas was measured using a self administered questionnaire. Data on selected attributes of the MOH areas and the Authorized Officers were obtained concurrently and factors associated with the performance were determined using appropriate analysis. I component 2 of the study, the opinion on the relevance and the adequacy of the Divisional level food safety activities was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. There was a wide variation in the performance of food safety activities at Divisional level and the strength and direction of the association of the factors predicting performance. The inadequacy of the number of Authorized Officers engaged in food safety activities at Divisional level was highlighted at many points of data collection. Opinions of different Authorized Officers on specific food safety activities' revealed the inadequacy of coverage and intensity, not giving priority on a scientific basis, and the need for better feed back and follow up actions as the most important that need improvement. Deficiencies of Authorized Officers, administrative, managerial, and supervisory deficiencies of the system, the lack of resources, process deficiencies of food safety activities, poor coordination among different agencies, the attributes of the food industry, trade and the persons involved food handling, and the attributes of the MOH areas and the PHI areas were the road categories of reasons identified as responsible for the current deficiencies. Areas recommended for further study include performance of food safety activities in Northern and Eastern Provinces, factors that were not included in the present study due to-practical reasons, and the study of performance of food safety activities at the level of the PHI range. The rules and regulations governing the sanitary situation at food handling establishments need to be reviewed and revised periodically. Current food safety activities should be expanded to cover a wider range of the food continuum including intervention at harvesting level and enhancing educational activities covering schools. Due publicity should be given through improved interaction with the consumers to maintain the consumer confidence at the highest level