A pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of a social marketing-based consumer food safety initiative using observation

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to aim to use observation, linked to quantitative risk-based scoring, to evaluate the effectiveness of a small-scale consumer food safety initiative based on the social marketing approach. Evaluation of intervention effectiveness is considered to be an important component of any health education initiative. The ultimate goal for social marketing initiatives is sustained behavioural change. Thus, when determining the effectiveness of community-based social marketing interventions, direct measurement of behaviour is advocated. 

Design/methodology/approach: A small-scale food safety strategy using targeted interventions was piloted in a geographical test community in South Wales, UK. Targeted consumers from the community prepared a set meal in a model domestic kitchen before, immediately after, and 4-6 weeks after implementation of the strategy. Observations of meal preparations were made using CCTV and food-handling behaviours were recorded and assessed using a risk-based scoring system. A quantitative evaluation of overall and specific food safety behaviours was made, and an effect size analysis provided a measure of potential intervention effectiveness. 

Findings: This pilot study suggested that "one-off" food safety interventions developed and implemented using a social marketing approach may result in a short-term improvement of consumer food safety behaviours. Interventions targeting specific food safety behaviours may produce a "halo effect" upon other food safety behaviours that are known, yet not consistently implemented during domestic food preparation. Intervention effect was greater immediately after implementation of the strategy than 4-6 weeks later. Use of the risk-based scoring system and observation techniques were effective for assessing food hygiene behaviours and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.

Originality/value: The use of an observational risk-based approach to assess consumer food safety behaviours can provide a valuable tool for evaluation of the estimated immediate and long-term effectiveness of food safety interventions on a small scale prior to launch of a larger initiative.