Consumer Knowledge of Food Security Affects Hygiene Practices: Mediated by Safety Concerns and Storage

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of consumer knowledge of food security on personal hygiene practices, focusing on mediating roles of food safety concerns and food cooking and storage practices and the moderating role of food safety regulatory efficiency. Conducted in the hotel industry, the research aims to advance understanding of consumer-driven food safety practices within restaurant settings. A quantitative survey-based approach was employed, collecting data from 255 restaurant consumers. Using well-validated scales from past research, the study measured consumer knowledge of food security, food safety concerns, food cooking and storage, food safety regulatory efficiency, and personal hygiene practices. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to analyze relationships between variables, evaluate mediating and moderating effects, and assess the measurement and structural models’ validity. The results confirmed that consumer knowledge of food security significantly influences personal hygiene practices. Food safety concerns and food cooking and storage mediated this relationship, with a serial mediation effect also identified. Additionally, food safety regulatory efficiency moderated the primary relationship, strengthening the influence of consumer knowledge of food security on hygiene practices. The model demonstrated robust explanatory power, highlighting the critical roles of mediators and moderators in enhancing food safety behaviors. The research provides empirical evidence on the behavioral pathways linking food security knowledge to hygiene practices, offering valuable insights for the hotel industry, policymakers, and health authorities to strengthen food safety initiatives and regulatory frameworks.