Food Safety And Sanitation Practices on Customer Loyalty in Casual Dining Restaurants in Occidental Mindoro

Food safety and sanitation practices are crucial for preventing foodborne illnesses. These practices involve ensuring food is handled, prepared, and stored safely to prevent contamination and maintain its safety. This study examined the impact of food safety and sanitation practices on customer loyalty in casual dining restaurants in Occidental Mindoro. It evaluated key aspects of food safety, including personal hygiene, food serving, and food handling, and assesses customer loyalty in terms of cognitive loyalty, affective loyalty, conative loyalty, and action loyalty; tested the significant difference in the responses to food safety and sanitation when grouped according to demographic profile; and tested the significant relationship between food safety sanitation practices, and customer loyalty. Data were collected through surveys of customers and restaurant staff, focusing on customer feedback related to food quality, service, and cleanliness. The study used a descriptive design with 218 employees of restaurants as respondents. Weighted Mean, ANOVA, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were utilized as statistical tools. The results demonstrate a strong correlation between the implementation of food safety practices and heightened customer satisfaction and loyalty. Significant variations in satisfaction were observed based on variables such as age, education, marital status, and employment, with food-handling practices showing the most substantial impact on customer loyalty. In response, an action plan to improve restaurant sanitation and service standards has been proposed.