Citation
Mohd Azaman, Nur Nazurah
(2017)
Stakeholders’ knowledge, attitude, and practices in relation to minimizing aflatoxins contamination in peanut-based products.
Masters thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Abstract
Aflatoxins are carcinogens produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus that
commonly found in agricultural commodities particularly peanut and occurring found in human foods
and animal feeds. Aflatoxins are one of the food contaminants, which have been the important issues
and reported widely in many developing countries such as India and China. However, the issues
on aflatoxins are still new among food stakeholders in Malaysia. Health issues that
affect to human and animals take place almost every day. Unfortunately, only a few people
know about the effects and risks from aflatoxins contamination to human health. Knowledge of the
danger of aflatoxins contamination in peanuts-based products is still lacking among food
stakeholders. The government of Malaysia concerned on the health issues that have been increasing
these days relating to aflatoxins. Therefore, both public and private agencies have
taken several steps to increase their surveillance and investigation towards only good quality of
imported peanuts will reach to the Malaysian markets. Thus, the objective of this study was to
determine the food supply chain stakeholders’ knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) in
relation to minimizing aflatoxins contamination in peanut-based products.
A total of 111 respondents of peanut-based products companies located in selected stated
in Peninsular Malaysia were the respondents of this study. Stratified random sampling
was used involving importers, large and small-scale manufacturers, and retailers as the
main groups of stakeholders. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the respondents
using a structured questionnaire. The data was analysed using descriptive analysis, KAP
analysis, analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA), Pearson
correlation, factor analysis, and logistic regression analysis.
Based on the overall results of KAP analysis revealed that 68.5% of peanut
stakeholders showed inadequate knowledge about aflatoxins contamination. The
knowledge level was determined based on overall score. Among the stakeholders, 84.7%
showed favourable attitude toward reducing aflatoxins contamination. The result also
indicated that 55.8% of stakeholders had low level of hygiene practices to minimize aflatoxins
contamination in peanut-based products.The findings based on the analysis of variance (one-way
ANOVA) showed that knowledge and practices levels found differences among four groups of
stakeholders. The knowledge level between importers and large-scale manufacturers were
showed difference with small-scale manufacturers and retailers. In addition, hygiene
practices between importers and large-scale manufacturers were significant difference
compared to the other stakeholder groups. However, the hygiene practices indicated no
difference between small-scale manufacturers and retailers.The Pearson correlation result showed
that the knowledge level and attitude of importers were positively correlated with scores 0.833 on
attitude and practices with scores 0.830. The knowledge level and practices of large- scale
manufacturers showed positively correlated with the score of 0.635. To add too, the knowledge and
attitude of retailers showed positively correlated with the score of
0.563. Meanwhile, the results from factor analysis found that there were three main
factors that influenced the hygiene practices level in minimizing aflatoxins
contamination namely material handling, distribution and processing, and storage. Finally,
the result from logistic regression analysis proved that knowledge about aflatoxins,
employee training, material handling, distribution and processing, and storage were
identified to be significant variables that influenced stakeholders’ hygiene practices in reducing
aflatoxins formation in peanut-based products. However, the most influential factor that affecting
stakeholder’ hygiene practices in relation to minimizing aflatoxins contamination in
peanut-based products were on knowledge about aflatoxins.
The result obtained from this study has clearly showed that stakeholders in the peanut- based
products supply chain should implement good practices to reduce aflatoxins contamination.
They should also be more aware on aflatoxins since peanut can be easily contaminated and
it is difficult to see using naked eyes unless by analyzing in the laboratory to check on the
existence of aflatoxins in peanut. Besides that, stakeholders should implement continuous
hygiene and training programs, education, and attending seminars as these are deemed
necessary to educate peanut-based stakeholders. Provided continuous training programs may be
improved and revealed to have significant effects on stakeholders’ KAP levels as well as their
awareness on food
safety towards hygiene practices in the workplace.
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