Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the layout has an effect on cross-contaminations levels at farmers markets.

Design/methodology/approach

We used social cognitive theory's triadic reciprocity model to investigate how influencing the environment could change the behaviors of farmers’ market consumers and reduce the risk of microbial cross-contamination using a Fluorescent Compound (FC). For this purpose, a 3 × 2 experimental between-subject factorial design was utilized in this study: three farmers market layouts (i.e. U-shaped [U-S], L-shaped [L-S] and square-shaped [S–S]) and two different set-ups per market (i.e. produce and non-produce vendors completely separated, and alternating produce and non-produce vendors). FC was utilized to simulate microbial contamination on the participants (n = 54) hands. The participants were allowed to walk through the layout for 3 min and touch items after which a total of 475 swab samples were processed and recorded for absorbance levels.

Findings

The results indicated that the cross-contamination level of the U-S market was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than those of the L-S and S–S markets. The best market layout and set-up based on the average levels of simulated cross-contamination were the U-S market, particularly with the A set-up, where produce and non-produce booths were scattered.

Originality/value

This study is the first to use the quantification of FC to identify the impact of a farmers’ market layout/design on cross-contamination levels. These results can be used to provide guidance to market managers on layout and design from a safety standpoint to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

中文翻译：

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改变农贸市场的布局可能会影响交叉污染

目的

这项研究的目的是调查布局是否对农贸市场的交叉污染水平有影响。

设计/方法/方法

我们使用社会认知理论的三元互惠模型来研究环境的影响如何改变农民市场消费者的行为并减少使用荧光化合物（FC）的微生物交叉污染的风险。为此目的，本研究采用了3×2的实验性主体间析因设计：三种农贸市场布局（即U形[US]，L形[LS]和方形[S–S]）和每个市场有两个不同的设置（即，生产商和非生产商完全分开，以及交替生产商和非生产商）。FC被用来模拟参与者的微生物污染（n = 54）手。允许参与者在布局中走动3分钟并触摸物品，然后处理总计475个拭子样品并记录其吸光度水平。

发现

结果表明，美国市场的交叉污染水平显着低于 LS和S–S市场（p <0.001）。基于模拟交叉污染的平均水平，最佳的市场布局和设置是美国市场，尤其是在A设置中，产品和非产品摊位都很分散。

创意/价值

这项研究是首次使用FC量化来确定农民的市场布局/设计对交叉污染水平的影响。这些结果可用于从安全的角度为布局和设计的市场经理提供指导，以减少交叉污染的风险。