045: Conducting Concealed Observations to Investigate Variability in Sanitation Practices in Food Service Applications

Introduction

Human noroviruses frequently cause acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks. Over half of norovirus outbreaks (60%) can be traced to an infected person or carrier of norovirus who did not use Good Manufacturing Practices during the preparation and serving of food. The virus has a low infectious dose and is shed in large amounts by infected individuals, posing a significant issue in food service settings that serve Ready-To-Eat (RTE) foods. This study analyzes the variability in sanitation behaviors among food retail workers under concealed conditions.

Methods

Four retail establishments in the Northeast United States were chosen as sites for this study. All sites were similar in size and scale and produced/served various cooked meals, RTE foods, and beverages. The research team was concealed during data collection to mitigate bias in sanitation practices and obtain accurate reflections. The researcher collecting data was identified as an “intern,” engaged in comprehensive on-the-job experiences to familiarize [themselves] with the department’s operations, policies, and procedures. This role allowed the researcher to roam each site freely and record observations. After each site visit, observations were coded for themes and variances. Each site was sampled for an equal number of hours over five months to sample the variance in observed sanitation practices and behaviors.

Results

Reported observations suggest a high variability in contact time of surface disinfectants and variable hand-washing times. All sites spray and wipe immediately when using disinfectants on surfaces. Hand-washing times ranged from 5 to 12 seconds.

Significance

Results imply that highly variable, risky sanitation behaviors, especially those pertaining to improper hand-washing and disinfectant contact time, can potentially lead to norovirus concerns.

Authors: Christina L. Allingham, Matthew D. Moore, Amanda J. Kinchla