Assessment on Sanitation of Traditional Coconut Sugar Production in Samut Songkhram Province
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Date
2010-03-18
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Thai Journal of Toxicology - วารสารพิษวิทยาไทย
Abstract
Coconut sugar is a product from the fresh coconut sap. The fresh coconut sap, tapping from the flower stalks of coconut palm’s spadix is boiled to evaporate the water until liquid become very sticky. Most production of coconut sugar is a traditional production which is small scale production, steps and methods relying on the experience or indigenous knowledge. As modernized production, the important aspects of the production process should be held to food safety standards. This study evaluated food safety issues in 30 small scale coconut sugar productions in 3 districts of Samut Songkram province, Thailand. This information would be useful for the control in ensuring food safety. The processes of coconut sugar production were analyzed starting with preparation of coconut sap, chewing and product packaging. The study found that some steps of coconut sugar production were not met food safety requirements in at least four ways. First, the production facilities were found to be in direct proximity to residences or animal pens. They lacked walls to protect against dust particles. Secondly, equipments used in production were inappropriate, such as plastic containers that could not endure heat. Also equipment that comes in contact with food was difficult to clean. Furthermore the mixer used in production was not designed for food production. Maintenance, cleaning and storage of equipment and containers were not sanitary. Clean equipment was stored together with equipment that had not been cleaned. In addition, the coconut sugar production producers exhibited unsanitary behaviors. Most producers directly contacted the heated coconut sugar with their unwashed hands. Finally, storage of the product prior to distribution was inadequate in some ways, such as lack of containment and placing product on the ground. The inadequate sanitation need to be corrected for good food sanitation resulting in food safety in coconut sugar products.
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Thai Journal of Toxicology - วารสารพิษวิทยาไทย; Vol.24 No.2 July-December 2009; 136-145