The Safe Food Standards Development Project at Burapha University Hospital
The Faculty of Medicine, Burapha University, through its Community Medicine Department, has initiated the Safe Food Standards Project since October 1, 2023, and continues to this day. Recognizing the importance of good health derived from access to safe food for students, staff, and visitors at Burapha University Hospital, the main activity involves monitoring food sanitation in restaurants, food stalls, and the hospital kitchen at Burapha University Hospital. This protects consumers and ensures they eat safe food, reducing the risk of gastrointestinal diseases. The sanitation inspections are carried out using the evaluation criteria of the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health. Coliform bacteria tests are also conducted on drinking water in the hospital’s kitchen and five food outlets in the hospital canteen. The project also ensures that food vendors are registered and trained on food handling standards by Saensuk Municipality. It provides them with knowledge about healthy food, encouraging them to reduce sugar, fat, and salt to minimize the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This ensures that everyone can consistently access safe and health-promoting food.
The Faculty of Medicine has also organized a monthly health market, held on the first Wednesday of every month, using the motorcycle parking area of Burapha University Hospital. The objectives of the market are as follows:
– To offer students, staff, and the public a choice of safe food, including organic vegetables and fruits from local communities.
– To protect consumers by monitoring food sanitation in restaurants, food stalls, and the hospital kitchen.
Activities for the 2023-2024 period are organized as a health market with two key components:
1) The health market: This activity promotes knowledge and encourages the consumption of safe food for staff, students, and the general public. The market is held once a month on the first Wednesday, offering free space for farmers and community enterprises to sell their products, such as various vegetables, local seasonal fruits, organic produce, processed agricultural products, handicrafts, and healthy ready-to-eat meals. The market also promotes the use of cloth bags and woven baskets instead of plastic foam containers. According to the 2024 health market assessment, participants reported 100% satisfaction, and the average score for knowledge and understanding of healthy food choices and consumption behaviour was 89.43.
2) Food sanitation monitoring: This involves inspecting restaurants, food stalls, and the hospital kitchen to ensure that consumers receive safe food, reducing the risk of gastrointestinal diseases. Vendors are required to register and attend food handler training by Saensuk Municipality according to the correct standards. The evaluation results showed that all five food outlets and the hospital kitchen met the criteria of the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, with a 100% compliance rate.
Project Leader: Mrs. Nongnuch Nanudorn, Community Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine