Evaluation of Knowledge and Practices Related to Safe Food Handling Among Bangladeshi University Students

Ensuring safe food handling is essential for reducing the global burden of foodborne infections. In this context, knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to food safety play a central role in prevention, particularly among university students who are developing independent dietary and food-handling behaviors. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess food safety KAP among university students in Bangladesh and to examine the influence of socio-demographic characteristics. To achieve this aim, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among 200 students from four public universities. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering demographic variables, food safety knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported practices. Subsequently, descriptive statistics were applied for analysis. The findings revealed that students demonstrated strong knowledge of basic hygiene; for instance, 97.9% recognized proper handwashing, 98.5% supported covering hair during cooking, and 92.3% acknowledged the importance of sanitizers for kitchen surfaces. However, deficiencies were noted in technical aspects, as only 42.6% correctly identified safe thawing methods, and fewer than 3% reported the use of food thermometers. Furthermore, attitudes toward food safety were generally positive, with 97.5% supporting the separation of raw and cooked foods and 93.0% emphasizing the prompt refrigeration of leftovers. In contrast, reported practices were less consistent: 73.4% washed hands before food preparation, 64.8% stored raw and cooked foods separately, and only 33.2% covered wounds while handling food. Moreover, pharmacy students demonstrated higher knowledge levels, while urban students were more likely to implement safe practices. Taken together, the results suggest that although university students in Bangladesh display sound knowledge and favorable attitudes toward food safety, their practices remain suboptimal. Consequently, interventions focusing on behavioral change, skills-based training, and improved resource availability are required to bridge the knowledge-practice gap.