Development of a Brazilian Food Truck Risk Assessment Instrument

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and validate a checklist instrument as a first step for the risk assessment of the hygienic-sanitary practices and conditions of food trucks. We invited sixteen experienced experts in the food safety field to take part in the process. The checklist was designed based on the Codex Alimentarius, Brazilian resolutions Collegiate Board Resolution 216, Brazilian Collegiate Board Resolution 275, Brazilian Federal District Law no. 5.627 and Brazilian Federal District Normative Instruction 11. The preliminary version of the checklist—composed of 29 items (nine sections)—was evaluated by 13 experts. They evaluated the items regarding their importance (content validation) and clarity (semantic evaluation) by the Delphi technique. The criteria for the approval of the content validation (Likert scale from 1 to 5) and semantic evaluation (Likert scale from 0 to 5) processes were as follows: a minimum of 75% agreement among the experts (W-values ≥ 0.75) and a mean grade ≥ 4. We performed the complete validation process in three rounds. The final version of the assessment instrument comprised 39 items, following suggestions from experts to add or subdivide some questions. The checklist can be used to conduct inspections of food trucks by health surveillance auditors, of food truck vendors’ decision-making processes and also as a diagnostic tool. The application of this checklist will allow the effective risk assessment of the hygienic-sanitary practices and conditions in food trucks and potentially ensure consumers’ access to safe street food.