TABLE 6. Results from the food safety attitude scale Response n (%) Questions Strongly Disagree 1 2 Strongly Agree 3 4 5 Interest in learning about avoiding food poisoning 1 I am interested in finding out how to avoid food poisoning. 2 It is worth my time to learn about preventing food poisoning. 3 I like learning about how to keep my foods safe to eat. 4 It is very useful to me to learn about how to prevent food poisoning. 5 I would like to learn about how to prevent food poisoning. 121 60 35 10 8 (51.7%) (25.6%) (15.0%) (4.3%) (3.4%) 5 6 28 73 122 (2.1%) (2.6%) (12.0%) (31.2%) (52.1%) 5 5 38 73 113 (2.1%) (2.1%) (16.2%) (31.2%) (48.3%) 4 9 28 78 115 (1.7%) (3.8%) (12.0%) (33.3%) (49.1%) 5 3 39 83 104 (2.1%) (1.3%) (16.7%) (35.5%) (44.4%) The importance of cleanliness/sanitation 1 It is important to me that the foods I eat are prepared in a sanitary way. 2 It is important that the restaurants I eat in look clean. 3 It is important that the restaurants I eat in are clean. 4 It does matter to me if a food store seems dirty. 5 It is important to me whether or not a food has been prepared in a sanitary manner. 3 (1.3%) 2 (0.9%) 1 (0.4%) 59 (25.2%) 9 (3.8%) 0 (0.0%) 4 (1.7%) 0 (0.0%) 17 (7.3%) 1 (0.4%) 19 (8.1%) 22 (9.4%) 18 (7.7%) 21 (9.0%) 16 (6.8%) 75 (32.1%) 71 (30.3%) 54 (23.1%) 46 (19.7%) 54 (23.1%) 137 (58.5%) 135 (57.7%) 161 (68.8%) 91 (38.9%) 154 (65.8%) Food poisoning susceptibility 1 I believe that I could get food poisoning. 2 I have a chance of getting food poisoning. 3 It is possible that I could get food poisoning this year. 6 12 54 82 80 (2.6%) (5.1%) (23.1%) (35.0%) (34.2%) 10 15 67 76 66 (4.3%) (6.4%) (28.6%) (32.5%) (28.2%) 106 58 54 8 8 (45.3%) (24.8%) (23.1%) (3.4%) (3.4%) Food poisoning as a threat in the U.S. 1 Many people in this country suffer from food poisoning every year. 2 Food poisoning is usual in the U.S. 3 A lot of Americans never get food poisoning. 4 Food poisoning is a problem in the U.S. 1 (0.4%) 16 (6.8%) 6 (2.6%) 5 (2.1%) 4 (1.7%) 15 (6.4%) 18 (7.7%) 18 (7.7%) 40 (17.1%) 82 (35.0%) 83 (35.5%) 85 (36.3%) 92 (39.3%) 76 (32.5%) 77 (32.9%) 82 (35.0%) 97 (41.5%) 45 (19.2%) 50 (21.4%) 44 (18.8%) Continued on next page. 88 Food Protection Trends March/April