Introduction: Foodborne diseases are on the rise and are becoming a major public health and economic concern in many countries. Inadequate storage of food, especially refrigerated food, is one of the main risk factors for foodborne disease outbreaks. Studies show that many household refrigerators around the world operate above the recommended temperature (5 °C), increasing the risk of food spoilage and disease transmission. Purpose: The aim of the Master's thesis is to gain an insight into the cold chain when storing food at home over a longer period of time, to analyse the hygienic-technical condition of the refrigerator, to check the shelf life of the stored food and to investigate the actual storage of the food in the consumer's refrigerator. The purpose of measuring the core temperature of the test product and the air temperature in the refrigerators is to determine the influence of the seasons on the temperature in the refrigerators. It also aims to establish whether consumers are saving electricity at the expense of the refrigerator due to the rise in electricity prices. Methods: The study included 14 household refrigerators in which the air temperature and core temperature of the standardised test product were monitored for seven days in winter and summer. The hygiene and technical condition of the refrigerators, consumer habits and the frequency with which the refrigerator door was opened were analysed using an evaluation form and a log sheet. A questionnaire was developed to determine consumer attitudes towards saving electricity in the future. Results: The average weekly air temperature in the refrigerator was 6,12 °C and the average temperature of the test product was 5,05 °C. In ten household refrigerators (n = 14), the measured refrigerator temperature was higher in summer. More than half of the participants (71 %) knew the correct refrigerator temperature. 52% of respondents who took part in the survey (n = 108) believe that the age of the appliance has the greatest influence on the electricity consumption of domestic refrigerators. The refrigerator is not a priority for participants when it comes to reducing electricity consumption. Discussion and conclusion: Although participants are well aware of the recommended operating temperature of a refrigerator, this knowledge is often not followed in practise. Temperature is a key factor in the microbiological safety and quality of food.
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