Behavioral risk factors associated with listeriosis in the home: a review of consumer food safety studies

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Author
Evans, Ellen W.
Redmond, Elizabeth
Date
2014-03Type
Article
Publisher
International Association for Food Protection
ISSN
0362-028X
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Listeria monocytogenes causes human listeriosis, which is associated with the highest hospitalization and mortality rates of all foodborne illnesses. In recent years, the incidence of listeriosis has doubled in Europe, almost exclusively among older adults (≥ 60 years of age). Food safety factors associated with increased risk of listeriosis include lack of adherence to "use by" dates and ineffective refrigerated storage of foods. Consequently, older adult consumers' implementation of safe food practices should be evaluated. This article is a review of consumer food safety cognitive and behavioral data relating to risk factors associated with listeriosis in the home as reported in 165 consumer food safety studies. Overall, only 41% of studies included assessment of consumer cognitive or behavioral data associated with listeriosis; of these studies 59% included data on safe refrigeration, 54% included data on storage time for opened ready-to-eat foods, and 49% included data on adherence to use-by dates. In most (83%) of the studies, survey-based data collection methods (questionnaires/interviews) were used; thus, the majority of findings were based on self-report (74%) and knowledge (44%). Observation (31%) and focus groups (12%) were less commonly used, resulting in a lack of actual behaviors and attitudinal data relating to listeriosis risk factors. Only 7% of studies included food safety data for older adults. Although older adults may fail to implement recommended practices, this review reveals a need for in-depth research to determine food safety attitudes and actual behaviors of older adults in conjunction with knowledge and selfreport of practices linked to increased risks of listeriosis. Such data combined with review findings would inform targeted food safety education to reduce risks associated with listeriosis in the home.
Journal/conference proceeding
Journal of Food Protection
Citation
Evans, E.W. and Redmond, E.C. (2014) 'Behavioral risk factors associated with listeriosis in the home: a review of consumer food safety studies', Journal of Food Protection, 77(3), pp.510-521.
Description
This article was published in Journal of Food Protection on 01 March 2014, available free at http://dx.doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-13-238.
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Evans, Ellen W.; Redmond, Elizabeth (International Association for Food Protection, 2016-08)Introduction: Due to weakened immune function, listeriosis is particularly associated with ‘at-risk’ consumers, predominantly affecting pregnant-women, older-adults (aged ≥ 60 years) and people receiving chemotherapy. ... -
Older adult consumer knowledge, attitudes and self-reported storage practices of ready-to-eat food products and risks associated with listeriosis
Evans, Ellen W.; Redmond, Elizabeth (International Association for Food Protection, 2016-02)Consumer implementation of recommended food safety practices, specifically relating to time and temperature control of ready-to-eat (RTE) food products associated with listeriosis are crucial. This is particularly the case ... -
Analysis of older adults' domestic kitchen storage practices in the United Kingdom: identification of risk factors associated with listeriosis
Evans, Ellen W.; Redmond, Elizabeth (International Association for Food Protection, 2015-04-01)Increased listeriosis incidence among older adults (≥60 years) has been reported internationally, with many cases reported to be sporadic and associated with ready-to-eat (RTE) food products with extended refrigerated shelf ...