Date of Award

January 2013

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Meredith Stowe

Second Advisor

Robert Makuch

Abstract

Objective: To determine if the time since food safety training is associated with inspection scores in class III and IV kitchens in Connecticut

Methods: Ledge Light Health District, which represents five towns in southeastern CT, provided 2011 inspection records and qualified food operator (QFO) training certificates for licensed kitchens in its jurisdiction. Establishments were included in analysis if they were class III or IV and had one identifiable QFO present at the time of inspection, with the corresponding QFO training record on file. Data was collected on establishment type, QFO certifying exam, inspection score, and risk factor violations. A linear regression model was used to examine the effect of time since training on inspection score. Secondary analyses examined the association between time since training and likelihood of incurring risk factor violations in four categories: food protection, cleanliness of personnel, cleanliness of equipment and utensils, and handwashing facilities.

Results: There was no association between the primary variable of interest, time since training, and overall inspection score, of between time since training and likelihood of incurring risk factor violations in any of four categories.

Conclusions: For the health district under study, time since QFO training was not associated with inspection performance. This should be reassuring to managers, because it suggests that it's not necessary to invest money and time in retraining, and to inspectors, because it indicates that their model of frequent, educational inspections is an effective way to maintain food safety standards.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

Download
Open Access

This Article is Open Access

Share

COinS