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Effectiveness of Public Health Interventions in Food Safety: A Systematic Review

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Abstract

Purpose: To summarize evidence on the effectiveness of public health interventions regarding food safety at restaurants, institutions, homes and other community-based settings.

Method: This systematic review of published and unpublished studies involved a comprehensive literature search, screening for relevance, quality assessment of relevant studies, data extraction and synthesis.

Results: The interventions identified in 15 studies included in this review were grouped into three categories: inspections, food handler training, and community-based education. The evidence suggests that: routine inspection (at least once per year) of food service premises is effective in reducing the risk of foodborne illness; food handler training can improve the knowledge and practices of food handlers; and selected community-based education programs can increase public knowledge of food safety.

Discussion: There is some evidence for the effectiveness of multiple public health interventions on food safety. Future research needs include evaluation of HACCP and community-based education programs.

Résumé

Objet: Résumer les résultats de la recherche sur l’efficacité des interventions de santé publique relative à la salubrité des aliments dans les restaurants, les établissements, les foyers et autres milieux communautaires.

Méthode: Cette revue méthodique d’études publiées et non publiées a exigé une analyse exhaustive de la documentation, une évaluation de sa pertinence, une évaluation de la qualité des études retenues, l’extraction des données et leur synthèse.

Résultats: Les interventions identifiées dans 15 des études comprises dans cette analyse ont été divisées en trois catégories: inspections, formation des préposés à la manipulation des aliments et éducation communautaire. Les données indiquent que l’inspection régulière des services d’alimentation, au moins une fois par an, contribue à réduire le risque de maladies d’origine alimentaire, que la formation professionnelle peut améliorer les connaissances et les pratiques des préposés à la manipulation des aliments et que certains programmes d’éducation communautaire peuvent améliorer les connaissances du public sur la salubrité des aliments.

Discussion: Certaines données de recherche montrent l’efficacité des interventions multiples des autorités en santé publique sur la salubrité des aliments. Les besoins futurs en recherche comprennent l’évaluation du système HACCP (système de l’analyse des risques — point critique pour leur maîtrise) et des programmes d’éducation communautaire.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Health Specialist, Toronto Public Health Department, North York Office, 5100 Yonge St., North York, ON, M2N 5V7, Canada

    Monica E. Campbell PhD & John J. Dwyer PhD

  2. Community Medicine Residency Program, University of Toronto, Canada

    Charles E. Gardner MD

  3. LCDC, Health Canada, Canada

    Sandy M. Isaacs MSc

  4. Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Public Health Department, Canada

    Paul D. Krueger PhD

  5. City of Toronto Department of Public Health, Canada

    Jane Y. Ying MHSc

Authors
  1. Monica E. Campbell PhD
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  2. Charles E. Gardner MD
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  3. John J. Dwyer PhD
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  4. Sandy M. Isaacs MSc
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  5. Paul D. Krueger PhD
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  6. Jane Y. Ying MHSc
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Monica E. Campbell PhD.

Additional information

Funding support was received from the Ontario Ministry of Health.

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Campbell, M.E., Gardner, C.E., Dwyer, J.J. et al. Effectiveness of Public Health Interventions in Food Safety: A Systematic Review. Can J Public Health 89, 197–202 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404474

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404474

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