@article{Taha_Nasraween_Khader_Al Omari_Al Nsour_Al Shdaifat_Berggren_2022, title={Microbial Load of Chicken Shawerma and the Handlers’ Compliance with Food Safety Practices in Jordan}, volume={6}, url={https://knepublishing.com/index.php/AJNE/article/view/10063}, DOI={10.18502/ajne.v6i1.10063}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Background: </strong><em>Shawerma</em> is a popular traditional food in the Eastern Mediterranean region.</p> <p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of this study was to assess the <em>shawerma</em> handlers’ compliance with food safety practices and determine the microbial load and pathogenic organisms in the ready-to-eat chicken <em>shawerma</em> sandwiches in the restaurants of Amman, Jordan.</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study used mixed methods including observational checklists to determine the compliance of food safety practices by 120 chicken <em>shawerma</em> handlers from 40 randomly selected restaurants in Amman. Additionally, pathogenic microorganisms were assessed by laboratory analysis in the ready-to-eat chicken <em>shawerma</em> sandwiches.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Only 2.5% and 10% complied, respectively, with separating knives and boards used for chicken from the ones used for vegetables. The compliance for maintaining proper temperatures for freezers and chillers were only 62% and 67%, respectively. As for hand-washing techniques and using disposable drying papers, the adherence was 5% and 7.5%, respectively. Laboratory analysis showed that 27.5% of the ready-to-eat <em>shawerma</em> had unacceptable levels of microorganisms.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings showed poor compliance of food safety practices in chicken <em>shawerma</em> restaurants of Amman. There is a need for capacity building and periodic evaluations of food handlers’ knowledge and practices within a comprehensive food safety program, carried out by qualified trainers.</p> <p><strong>Keywords:</strong> chicken <em>shawerma</em>, food safety, Jordan</p&gt;}, number={1}, journal={Arab Journal of Nutrition and Exercise (AJNE)}, author={Taha, Hana and Nasraween, Moath and Khader, Yousef and Al Omari, Lujain and Al Nsour, Mohannad and Al Shdaifat, Amjad and Berggren, Vanja}, year={2022}, month={Jan.}, pages={13–28} }