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Cited by 16Food Safety and HygieneSalmonella and Campylobacter epidemiologyCoconut Research and Applications

Food safety knowledge and practices among fresh coconut vendors

Open access
Oduro-Yeboah, C., Ackah, N.B., Akonor, P.T., Amponsah, S.K., Mboom, F.P.·2020·Scientific African
DOI 10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00392
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Abstract

The study examines the distribution and sale practices of coconut vendors, identifies and analyzes food safety bottlenecks associated with street vending of fresh coconuts in Accra, Ghana. A cluster random sampling technique was used in which the study area was classified into three zones. One hundred fresh coconut vendors responded to a structured questionnaire. The results showed that vendors were predominantly male, most of who were educated up to secondary school level. Many (70.8%) of them learnt the trade through apprenticeship. The vendors were either stationed at a particular location (46.1%), or moved around as itinerant traders (53.8%), with their product displayed on pushcarts or head pans. The respondents revealed that more than 30% of consumers patronize fresh coconut because of its water. Food safety challenges identified in the coconut business include potential cross contamination of packaging materials by fresh coconuts, dipping pared coconut into alum solution to preserve freshness, and improper waste handling during and after sales. Education had a positive influence on food safety knowledge among the fresh coconut vendors (χ2 = 12.8, p < 0.05). Generally, vendors’ knowledge in food safety was encouraging but there ought to be an improvement in these areas of their operations to safeguard the health of consumers.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This survey of 104 fresh coconut vendors in Accra, Ghana, describes their distribution and sale practices and identifies food safety bottlenecks including packaging cross-contamination, alum dipping, and waste handling. Vendor food safety knowledge was generally encouraging and positively associated with education, but hand/equipment washing and waste practices remained inconsistent.

Key findings

  • Vendors were predominantly male (103/104, 99.0%) and mostly aged 20–39 years (77.9%); 62.5% had primary education, 23.1% secondary education, and 14.4% no formal education (Table 2).
  • 70.8% learned the trade through apprenticeship; 53.8% were itinerant and 46.1% were stationed; an average of 53 coconuts were sold per day.
  • Food safety concerns included potential cross-contamination of packaging stored with raw coconuts (only 29% kept packaging separate), dipping pared coconut in alum solution (43.7%), and improper waste handling; 71.6% washed hands between servings and 70.7% washed knives/scoops, while 28.4% and 29.3% respectively did not.
  • Education had a positive influence on food safety knowledge (χ² = 12.81, p = 0.024); 82% agreed that washing hands with soap during operation and after handling money enhances food safety.

Methods

  • Cluster random sampling in Accra Metropolis, Ghana; the study area was divided into three zones, and a structured questionnaire was administered to fresh coconut vendors. 115 questionnaires were distributed, but 104 were included in analysis after excluding 11 incomplete/inconsistent responses; a pilot survey with 20 vendors was excluded, and Cronbach’s α was 0.83.
  • Data were entered into SPSS 17.1; descriptive statistics and chi-square tests assessed associations between respondent demography and food safety variables. Sample size was calculated with 80% statistical power and a 0.05 error margin.

Limitations

  • The paper does not include a dedicated limitations section. It states that the health implication of the alum practice is yet to be ascertained.
  • Evident from the text: findings rely on self-reported vendor practices and knowledge, with no microbiological testing or consumer health outcome data; the study is limited to Accra and may not generalize; the abstract reports 100 vendors while the methods/results analyze 104, and the text/table education percentages are inconsistent.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00392

Cites

17 of 17 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

1 of 2 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Findingcitation

    Age, gender and other demographic indices had no influence on the knowledge of the study population (p>0.05).

    “Consistent with other previous studies [3 , 22] age, gender and other demographic indices had no influence on the knowledge of the study population ( p > 0.05).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [3] Akonor, 2013, Food safety knowledge: the case of domestic food handlers in Accra, Eur. J. Nutr. Food Saf. source
    • cites [22] Prades, 2012, Coconut water preservation and processing: a Review, Fruits source

      The review’s section 3.2.3 discusses coconut-water processing, shelf life and product quality, not whether age, gender or other demographic characteristics affect a study population’s knowledge. Searches for the claimed demographic association and for consumer knowledge found no relevant passage. Page numbers were not available in the indexed passages. (LLM, conf=0.76)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Findingown data

    More than 30% of consumers patronize fresh coconut because of its water.

    “more than 30% of consumers patronize fresh coconut because of its water.”
    • Also stated in: § Food safety conditions and practices among vendors · plain
      “more than 35% mainly buy for the water alone.”
    • Also stated in: § Conclusion · plain
      “only about 30% of consumers buy coconuts exclusively for its water.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Vendors' reports accurately reflect consumer purchasing behavior, including the proportion of consumers who buy coconut exclusively for its water.
  • Findingreasoning

    Vendors were predominantly male.

    “vendors were predominantly male”
    • Also stated in: § Demography of respondents · plain
      “this study population was male dominated”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingnone given

    Vendors keep waste together with fresh coconuts on the same vending cart or head pan until close of the day's business.

    “The waste (mainly coconut husk and shell) generated from the operations of the vendors is kept together with the fresh coconuts on the same vending cart or head pan until close of the day's business.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Higher educational level was associated with greater likelihood of attaching importance to the hygiene status of coconuts (χ2=12.81, p=0.024).

    “The results showed that the higher the educational level, the more likely ( χ 2 = 12.81, p = 0.024) it is for a vendor to attach importance to the hygiene status of the coconuts.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 8
  • May combine two claims. 1

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    Many (70.8%) of vendors learnt the trade through apprenticeship.

    “Many (70.8%) of them learnt the trade through apprenticeship.”
    • Also stated in: § Business setup and distribution practices · plain
      “others (70.8%), who incidentally were in the majority, acquired the skill though apprenticeship.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Vendors were either stationed at a particular location (46.1%) or itinerant traders (53.8%).

    “The vendors were either stationed at a particular location (46.1%), or moved around as itinerant traders (53.8%)”
    • Also stated in: § Business setup and distribution practices · plain
      “majority of fresh coconut sellers were not stationed at a particular location”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    Vendors displayed their product on pushcarts or head pans.

    “with their product displayed on pushcarts or head pans.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    An average of 53 coconuts were sold per day.

    “an average of 53 coconuts were sold per day”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    For respondents who could not read or write English, questions were read and interpreted in vernacular.

    “For respondent who could not read or write in English, the questions were read and interpreted in vernacular and the responses translated directly onto the questionnaire.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Data entries were validated by manually comparing against hard copies.

    “Entries in the software template were validated by manually comparing these against responses on each questionnaire (hard copy).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    A statistical power of 80% was achieved based on the sample size equation.

    “A statistical power of 80% was achieved based on this equation and its parameters used in the sample size calculation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    The study used a cluster random sampling technique.

    “A cluster random sampling technique was used in which the study area was classified into three zones.”
    • Also stated in: § Study location setting · plain
      “at least four suburbs randomly selected from these locations for questionnaire administration.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Consent of respondents was sought after detailed explanation of the study.

    “The consent of respondents were sought after a detailed explanation of the study.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
9 of 9

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Vendors' reports accurately reflect consumer purchasing behavior, including the proportion of consumers who buy coconut exclusively for its water.

    “The respondents revealed that more than 30% of consumers patronize fresh coconut because of its water.”
    “The vendors revealed that most customers consume coconut water directly from the fruit”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Vendors' self-reported hand and equipment washing practices reflect their actual practices.

    “Nearly 72% intimated that they wash their hands in between servings.”
    “about 73% wash their paring knives and scoops in between servings or after use.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The selected communities in Accra Metropolis are representative of fresh coconut vending in Accra.

    “These areas are urban and reflect a typical modern society in which consumers are inclined to patronizing the convenience presented by street vended food products.”
3 of 3

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Knife-washing frequency exceeds the reported yes percentage

    Minor

    In Table 4, the percentages who always or sometimes wash knives and scoops add to 72.7%, not the 70.7% reported as washing them.

    Reported 70.7 · recomputed 72.7

  • Secondary-education percentage conflicts with Table 2

    Minor

    The text assigns 14.4% of respondents to secondary education, whereas Table 2 assigns 23.1% to secondary education and 14.4% to no formal education.

  • Respondent count differs between abstract and analysis

    Minor

    The abstract says 100 vendors responded, but the methods say 104 questionnaires were included in the analysis. The analyzed questionnaires imply at least 104 responses.

3 of 3

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Barro, 2006, Hygienic status assessment of dishwater, utensils, hands and pieces of money in street foods vending sites in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Afr. J. Biotechnol., 5, 1107
  2. Okorley, 2004, Farmers’ attitude and problems associated with the adoption of Cape Saint Paul resistant coconut hybrid in the Western region of Ghana, Agron. Afr., 16, 83

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Oduro-Yeboah, C., Ackah, N. B., Akonor, P. T., Amponsah, S. K., & Mboom, F. P.
Affiliations
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (GH)
Corresponding author
Akonor, P.T.
ORCID
Venue
Scientific African
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-07
Volume
8
Pages
e00392
ISSN
2468-2276 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00392
OpenAlex
W3019592272
Cited by
16
References
17
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2
FWCI
1.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
erratum (2021-03-01)
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Scientific African (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food Safety and Hygiene
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Inorganic Chemistry › Coconut Research and Applications
Keywords
food safety knowledge, food safety practices, street vending, street food safety, cross-contamination, waste handling, Accra

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Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-10.

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