Arezou Khezerlou
1, Nasim Zolfaghari Firouzsalari
2, Hajar Zolfaghari
1, Mahmood Alizadeh sani
3, Maryam Azizi-lalabadi
1, Ali Ehsani
4*1 Student Research Committee, Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
2 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
3 Department of Food Safety and Hygiene, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Food and Drug Safety Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Healthy life style and food safety are among the most crucial elements inpromoting community health. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the awarenessand attitudes of the students of Urmia University, Urmai, Iran, regarding health and food safety. Methods: The questionnaire used was designed in three parts (demographic, attitude, andawareness) and it was completed by 384 students. Data were analyzed using SPSS software.Results: Results showed that over 80% of the students had positive attitude towards health and foodsafety. In addition, almost 50% of the subjects had low awareness on the most appropriate plasticcontainers to keep food healthy. Findings indicated that there was a significant difference between thestudents' attitudes and their academic level (P = 0.008). No significant differences were found amongstudents' awareness and attitude considering gender and passing the food safety course. Cocnclusion: As the study findings revealed, training programs and workshops related to healthand food safety could be effective, specially for freshmen students.