Food Safety Practices at Various Restaurants and Hotels in Lahore, Pakistan

Introduction: Food safety, a rapidly growing and serious public health concern in developing countries, has diverted the focus of food safety experts, policy makers, and legislators to formulate and standardize food safety legislations with proper enforcement to give access to safe, hygienic, and wholesome food.

Purpose: The purpose of study was to assess and evaluate the current food safety practices adopted by various restaurants and the food safety knowledge and awareness among food handlers.

Methods: In the present study a cross sectional survey of 120 restaurants and hotels in nine towns of Lahore, which are under jurisdiction of the Punjab Food Authority, were carried out in collaboration with the Punjab Food Authority.

Results: Results of this study showed that restaurants and hotels have not properly adopted food safety practices. On part of management and personnel, the situation at food establishments is highly pathetic; 36% of restaurants needed immediate improvement, 75% needed major improvement, and only 2% of the food establishments showed good signs of safety practices. The situation of personnel hygiene is also very poor; 17% needed immediate improvement and 26% required major improvement, and none of the restaurants have meet very good criteria. For 80% of restaurants, immediate improvement was required because of maintenance and infrastructure. In response to control of operation, 60% need urgent improvement.

Significance: This study was quite helpful for recognizing restaurants and hotels that need to improve and adopt food safety practices.