A look into the food safety practice of fast-food establishments: basis for best practices guideline during pandemic/ Charlene C. Basarte, Jonilo DG. Cruz, Cyle Johan D. Borja, Renz Gabriel B. Emano. -- Parañaque City: Olivarez College, 2021.
Undergraduate Thesis
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in unprecedented human, social, and economic impacts across the globe. One of the hardest hits is the food industry, and particularly, the fast-food establishments. The sudden emergence and scale of the pandemic have led to substantial pressure and heightened expectations for accelerated systematic reviews and rapid guidelines. There has been duplication of effort, some of which is entirely profligate. This study aims to determine the best precautionary measures being implemented by fast-food establishments. Based on a review of the literature on food safety practices and the conceptual-theoretical framework of the variables, a researcher-made questionnaire was distributed to the customers with a survey design of4-point scale and conducted a separate survey interview for the staff in a popular fast food establishment located in Parañaque City and asked to respond into three questions. Analysis of the responses demonstrates that there is no significant difference when grouped accordingly this means that it is a null hypothesis. The results indicate safety facilities rank as the highest level of importance for the customers and the most challenging for the customers part is the safety policies being enforced by the fast-food establishment in adherence to the government's protocols. On this basis, it is recommended that fast food establishments should provide designated handwashing areas and act in a friendly way with behavioral control. Also, the need for research to further understand the challenges and centering the perception of the staff and customers' importance regarding following the government's standard guidelines on the fast-food establishments is highly recommended.