ABSTRACT
The development of COVID-19 into a global epidemic has made it necessary to regulate foodservice practices to minimize the risk of transmission. The main purpose of this study is to determine the effects of awareness, perception, and anxiety levels of kitchen staff on attitudes toward the implementation of new practices regarding novel COVID-19 regulations. Empirical data were collected from 721 kitchen staff working at certified food and beverage establishments, hotels, and restaurants in Turkey. The study results indicated a negative correlation between attitude toward application and anxiety and a positive correlation between awareness and attitude. Significant differences were also detected in the dimensions of awareness, perception, anxiety, and attitude regarding the demographic features of the participants. Kitchens are the nerve center of the foodservice industry. The study extends the value of the in-house (kitchen) responses to improve the food handling practices in commercial kitchens regarding the implementation of new COVID-19 regulations.
ABSTRACT
During the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurant sanitation and disinfection have become more important than ever although customers can hardly check visually. The most recent research argues that one invisible element leaving people vulnerable to the health effects of COVID-19 is particulate matter (PM), micron-sized particles known to cause acute or chronic respiratory illnesses, including lung cancer. While research shows PM is emitted from cooking, this study examines indoor PM pollution of an open-kitchen full-service chain restaurant, where commercial cooking occurs in the dining room, as a case study. The results of a week-long field test showed offensively harmful levels of PM10 and PM2.5, far beyond US EPA and WHO standards, while ambient outdoor PM associated with the sample restaurant was safe. The study reveals that working or frequently dining in an open-kitchen restaurant where grilling or frying takes place is likely to cause respiratory health problems and elevate susceptibility to COVID-19 unless surveillance and preventative measures are taken. Based on our findings, implications and recommendations for the industry are provided.