TABLE 3. Self-reported food handling practices (n = 120) Questions 1. How do you wash your hands before cooking or eating? Responses (appropriate response in bold) With warm water and soap With water only Do not wash hands Just wipe with a damp cloth Leave it at room temperature for hours Immerse it in water until it defrosts 2. How do you defrost frozen meat or chicken? Use of microwave 3. During shopping, when do you pick frozen meat? Leave it in the fridge for a few hours At the beginning of a shopping trip At the end of a shopping trip In the middle of a shopping trip At any time 4. During shopping, where do you place meat in a cart? Mix it with other food items On the upper shelf of the cart Anywhere on the cart On the lower shelf of the cart Porridge 5. What kind of food(s) do you store in the refrigerator? Uncooked meat Carrots Spices 6. Where do you store fruit like bananas? In the vegetable basket On the cupboard In the refrigerator In the freezer 7. How do you store leftovers like beef stew? In a closed container and put in a cupboard In a closed container and put in a refrigerator Leave it in the pot Leave it at room temperature, uncovered Always have short hair no need to cover 8. What do you do to your head when preparing food? 9. What do you do in your kitchen before preparing food? 10. What do you do with a knife that was used to cut meat before chopping vegetables? Leave head uncovered Wash head and leave it uncovered Cover head Do not do anything, even if dirty Ensure the kitchen is clean Wipe them with a clean cloth Wash with warm water and soap and wipe with a clean cloth Use them as they are n (%) 68 (56.6) 26.7 8 (6.7) 12 (10.0) 28 (23.3) 50 (41.7) 32 (26.7) 10 (8.3) 10 (8.3) 42 (35.0) 12 (10.0) 56 (46.7) 8 (6.7) 10 (8.3) 40 (33.3) 62 (51.7) 4 (3.3) 14 (11.7) 102 (85.0) -a 84 (70.0) - 30 (25.0) 6 (5.0) 26 (21.7) 24 (20.0) 44 (36.6) 26 (21.7) 18 (15.0) 32 (26.7) - 70 (58.3) 12 (10.0) 108 (90.0) 82 (68.3) 26 (21.7) 12 (10.0) Continued on next page. May/June Food Protection Trends 227