Food Safety Knowledge and Practices among Small-Scale Fish Vendors

Isaac Yeboah

Diplomová práce

Abstract:

Food safety continues to be a significant public health issue in developing nations, especially in informal food markets where regulatory supervision and infrastructure are frequently inadequate. Fish is a highly perishable product that is prone to contamination during handling, storage, and sale, necessitating the implementation of suitable food safety standards to safeguard consumer health. This study analysed small-scale fish vendors’ knowledge of food safety and hygiene, evaluated the extent of adoption of food safety practices, and identified the socioeconomic and institutional factors affecting the intensity of adoption of food safety practices. The research utilized primary data gathered from 186 small-scale fish sellers using a structured survey and direct observation of food safety practices in 2025. Descriptive statistics were employed to describe vendors' socioeconomic attributes, food safety knowledge, and the adoption of specific practices. A multivariate probit (MVP) model was utilized to analyse the factors affecting the adoption of several food safety procedures, while a Poisson regression model was employed to assess the determinants of adoption intensity. The findings reveal that while vendors often exhibited moderate to high knowledge regarding food safety protocols, the implementation of food safety practices was inconsistent. The MVP results indicated that gender, age, type of fish sold, and institutional information sources significantly affected the adoption of particular practices. The Poisson regression results indicated that knowledge score, average monthly profit, information from governmental organizations, and peer learning from other vendors significantly enhanced the adoption intensity of food safety practices. The results underscore the significance of knowledge, economic capability, and institutional backing in advancing safe fish handling methods within informal marketplaces. These actions are crucial for enhancing public health outcomes and fortifying the sustainability of small-scale fish marketing systems.

Keywords

Fisheries, Food hygiene, Fish Market, Food and Drugs Authority

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 23. 4. 2026

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: doc. Ing. Miroslava Bavorová, Ph.D.

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta tropického zemědělství

Magisterský studijní program:
International Development and Agricultural Economics