Abstract:
The objectives of the present study, comprising 2 components, were to assess the level of
performance of selected food safety activities at Divisional level, to determine factors
associated with the performance of these activities. The study was carried out in seven
provinces in Sri Lanka except the Northern and Eastern Provinces. In component 1, the
performance of selected food safety activities in 199 MOH areas was measured using a self
administered questionnaire. Data on selected attributes of the MOH areas and the
Authorized Officers were obtained concurrently and factors associated with the performance
were determined using appropriate analysis. I component 2 of the study, the opinion on the
relevance and the adequacy of the Divisional level food safety activities was obtained using
a self-administered questionnaire. There was a wide variation in the performance of food
safety activities at Divisional level and the strength and direction of the association of the
factors predicting performance. The inadequacy of the number of Authorized Officers
engaged in food safety activities at Divisional level was highlighted at many points of data
collection. Opinions of different Authorized Officers on specific food safety activities'
revealed the inadequacy of coverage and intensity, not giving priority on a scientific basis,
and the need for better feed back and follow up actions as the most important that need
improvement. Deficiencies of Authorized Officers, administrative, managerial, and
supervisory deficiencies of the system, the lack of resources, process deficiencies of food
safety activities, poor coordination among different agencies, the attributes of the food
industry, trade and the persons involved food handling, and the attributes of the MOH areas
and the PHI areas were the road categories of reasons identified as responsible for the
current deficiencies. Areas recommended for further study include performance of food
safety activities in Northern and Eastern Provinces, factors that were not included in the
present study due to-practical reasons, and the study of performance of food safety activities
at the level of the PHI range. The rules and regulations governing the sanitary situation at
food handling establishments need to be reviewed and revised periodically. Current food
safety activities should be expanded to cover a wider range of the food continuum including
intervention at harvesting level and enhancing educational activities covering schools. Due
publicity should be given through improved interaction with the consumers to maintain the
consumer confidence at the highest level
