Development of Standard Criteria for Quality Groceries and Inspection of Groceries in Uthumpornphisai District, Sisaket According to Such Criteria

Abstract

Objective: To develop standard criteria for quality groceries and to survey groceries in Uthumphon Phisai District, Sisaket Province by using the developed criteria. Method: This study was divided into 2 phases.  Phase 1 involved the development of standard criteria for quality groceries and form for data collection according to the criteria by panel of experts. The researchers held group discussions among 24 participants including those from sub-district health promoting hospitals, grocery owners, community leaders and those living in the communities. The topics of discussion included expectation towards groceries in the area, appropriateness of the draft criteria and suggestions for improvement. Phase 2 was a survey of 92 grocery stores according to the criteria. Results: The first phase of the study resulted in the criteria consisting of 3 domains including establishment (4 items), health products (16 items on drugs, food and cosmetics with 8, 6 and 2 items, respectively) and literacy on health products (11 items on drugs, food and cosmetics with 3, 5 and 3 items, respectively). Grocery inspections on establishment revealed that groceries were clean (78.26 % of the grocery stores), there was no sunlight exposure of cosmetics if sold (96.74 %), food on the shelf was clean (96.74 %), and each category of health products was appropriately and separately kept (92.39 %). In the domain of drugs, it was found that household drugs such as paracetamol were available (84.78%), every store did not sell Ya-chud, Dangerous drugs were available (15.22%), seasoning products had food serial numbers (100%), dry food had labels (75%), no food deterioration was found (98.91%), no dented/rusty canned food (97.83%), no pickled food with bubbles, smell or vivid color (95.65%), no moldy bread (97.83%), no cosmetics without registration number (100%). In the domain of literacy on health products, 77.17%, 97.83% and 54.35% of the groceries had adequate knowledge on drugs, food, and cosmetics, respectively. Conclusion: The study developed the criteria that could be used to inspect groceries to identify problems on improper distribution of health products. The authorities in the area could use this information to tackle the problems for the safety of consumers.