Uso do sistema de cores Traffic Lights (“luzes de semáforo”) adaptado como recurso didático para a adequação de boas práticas de manipulação em açougues

Introduction: To reduce health risks and increase food preservation time, the implementation of Good Handling Practices (GHP) is mandatory in food processing and handling establishments. Failures in GHP have been attributed to the low effectiveness of training programs provided to food handlers. Objective: To verify whether the use of the Traffic Light-type color system, adapted as a didactic resource, can be used by butcher shop employees as a learning facilitator in the adoption of good food handling practices. Method: The hygienic-sanitary compliance of each of the five butcher shops (units) studied was evaluated before and after the introduction of the color system used in the training of food handlers. Initially (“before”), the handlers received a traditional lecture-based GHP course, and the environment was assessed using a checklist for four consecutive weeks. The evaluated items were classified as green for satisfactory (compliant) items, yellow for intermediate items, and red for unsatisfactory (non-compliant) items. In the “after” stage, the same course was conducted concurrently with the implementation of the color system in the units. To compare the results, a formula was developed, and statistical analysis was performed using the mean as a central tendency measure, with the significance of the difference evaluated by the paired Student’s t-test. Results: In Unit 1, compliance scores increased from 56.97 to 88.04; in Unit 2, from 78.67 to 87.06; in Unit 3, from 62.23 to 85.33; in Unit 4, from 65.69 to 87.70; and in Unit 5, from 60.53 to 88.81. Conclusions: The introduction of the Traffic Light-type color system influenced the attitudes and practices of food handlers, leading to a significant increase in hygienic-sanitary compliance in the studied butcher shop units.