COVID-19 Impact on Food Safety Perception among Saudi Women

Aims: The spread of COVID-19 pandemic has increased the global public concern about food safety and hygiene. This study was conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 on food safety knowledge, attitude, and practices among Saudi women.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study using self-administered online questionnaire.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, between April 2021 and June 2021.

Methodology: Participants (426 Saudi adult females aged 18-60 years) were randomly recruited from the major cities of the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, including Dammam, Khobar and Qatif.

Results: Higher knowledge and practice of food safety measures were associated with COVID-19 pandemic, where 90% of participants acquired more food safety knowledge during the pandemic. Only 25% of participants, however, thought that the disease can be transmitted by food. Furthermore, more than 90% and 64% of participants presented high attitude and practices in hand washing and food cleaning, respectively.

Conclusion: Despite the lack of solid evidence that supports the transmission of COVD-19 virus through the food, applying appropriate precautionary safety measures throughout food production and servicing chain can reduce the transmission of the virus.