A qualitative exploration of the perceptions and information needs of public health inspectors responsible for food safety

Four focus group discussions were conducted with public health inspectors from the Central West region of Ontario, Canada during June and July, 2008. A questioning route was used to standardize qualitative data collection. Audio recordings of sessions were transcribed verbatim and data-driven content analysis was performed.A total of 23 public health inspectors participated in four focus group discussions. Five themes emerged as key food safety issues: time-temperature abuse, inadequate handwashing, cross-contamination, the lack of food safety knowledge by food handlers and food premise operators, and the lack of food safety information and knowledge about specialty foods (i.e., foods from different cultures). In general, participants reported confidence with their current knowledge of food safety issues and foodborne pathogens. Participants highlighted the need for a central source for food safety information, access to up-to-date food safety information, resources in different languages, and additional food safety information on specialty foods.The information gathered from these focus groups can provide a basis for the development of resources that will meet the specific needs of public health inspectors involved in protecting and promoting food safety.Foodborne illness represents a significant health burden in the province of Ontario, Canada. According to an Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) analysis by Campbell (2002), there are more than 2.5 million cases of foodborne illness each year in Ontario, resulting in 9,319 hospitalizations and 135 deaths [1]. Since many cases of foodborne illness are often not reported, the actual number and impact of foodborne illnesses in Ontario is likely to be greater. A study estimating the rate of underreporting for infectious gastrointestinal illness in Ontario found that for each reported case of enteric illness, an estimated 313 cases of infectious gastrointestinal illness occurred in the commu