Food safety awareness, risk perception, and attitudes toward traceability of Ponmo: A One Health perspective

Abstract

Ponmo is widely consumed in Nigeria, and its unsafe processing practices may expose consumers to potential microbiological and chemical hazards. This study used cross sectional online survey of adults (age ≥ 18 years) who consumed ponmo and lived in Nigeria in 2026. Participants were recruited using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. Food safety awareness, food safety risk perception, and attitudes towards traceability were measured using a structured questionnaire. Risk perception was assessed using a nine-item, five-point Likert scale with good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.842). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while the Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H tests were used at a 0.05 level of significance. The majority of respondents were aware that improperly processed animal products could transmit disease (93.3%), that improperly processed ponmo could be harmful to health (84.4%), and that burning tyres and plastics during processing could cause harm to health (90.4%). The strongest association with risk perception was observed for awareness of chemical residue persistence (χ² = 36.877, p < 0.001), followed by awareness of tyre use and singeing (p = 0.001), and awareness of plastic use and singeing (p = 0.001). Hazard-specific awareness was significantly associated with food safety risk perception, indicating that reinforcing food safety education through targeted approaches, traceability, and safer food processing methods in a one health context may contribute to consumer protection and public health. These results should be considered in the context of the online convenience sample, which was mainly highly educated and might not be representative of consumers with limited access to the Internet or lower levels of education.