The effect of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on eating habits and food safety knowledge and food handling practices among university students and academics

Consumer concerns have increased during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic about food safety to avoid the spread of disease. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on food safety knowledge, hygiene practices, and eating attitudes of academics (n=240) and university students (n = 479) in Turkey. Online survey invitations were emailed to participants from various academic rank and departments at chosen universities from different regions of country. Responses were accepted in a period of 45 days in April and May 2020 during this pandemic. The relationships between socio-demographic factors (gender, faculty/student status, marital status, parental status, and academic rank) and food safety knowledge, hygiene practices, and eating attitudes were compared. Academics and students responded to food safety knowledge statements with similar percentages and only significant effect of marital status (P<0.05). Hygiene practices were considered more important to avoid disease by both groups during COVID-19 pandemic. All socio-demographic factors except for marital and parental status were significant affecting hygiene practices before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Both groups had an eating attitude toward consumption at home due to COVID-19 with significant factors of gender and parental status (P<0.05). This study indicates that the reaction of both academics and university students are similar during COVID-19 pandemic with a significant effect on marital and parental status.