We’re spotlighting the work of Dr. Karen Levy this week, an RGHI International Collaboration Grant Award Holder. This research addresses the various hygiene challenges found in open-air food markets, with a focus on Maputo, Mozambique. Collaborating with co-investigators Dr. Jose Fafetine, Dr. Tatiana Marrufo, and Dr. Matthew Freeman, this team is developing and testing a food hygiene intervention to reduce microbial contamination and improve public health outcomes.

Open-air markets play a vital role in the livelihoods of many communities in low and middle-income countries. However, these environments can also serve as high-risk areas for the transmission of foodborne and zoonotic pathogens. In Maputo, research led by Dr. Levy’s team revealed significant levels of contamination in chicken products with Salmonella, Campylobacter, and antimicrobial-resistant organisms, all of which are contributing to diarrhoeal diseases and other major health burdens.

This research highlights the urgent need for interventions which address food hygiene and safety within low and middle-income settings, where regulatory infrastructure can be limited. The research consists of three key components:

• Development and pilot of a market-based poultry hygiene intervention through close collaboration with local stakeholders, including market vendors, regulators, and consumers.
• Testing and quantifying the intervention’s ability to reduce microbial contamination in chicken products.
• Estimating the potential public health impact of the intervention at the population level, using microbial risk assessment models to evaluate likely reductions in disease burden.

“This project exemplifies exactly the kind of innovative, cross-sector research RGHI is committed to supporting. By addressing food hygiene risks at informal markets, the team’s work has the potential not only to improve health outcomes in Mozambique but also to inform scalable, evidence-based solutions that can strengthen hygiene systems and food safety across many low- and middle-income countries.”

• Sarah Roberts, RGHI Executive Director

The RGHI Spotlights Series showcases researchers’ inspiring work on improving global hygiene and health outcomes. Each post highlights a project funded through an RGHI grant or fellowship, detailing its goals, progress, and potential impact. These spotlights celebrate innovation and collaboration in tackling some of the world’s most pressing hygiene challenges. To learn more about RGHI-funded research and its contributions to advancing hygiene and health worldwide, explore our research portfolio.

Stay tuned for more next week and follow RGHI on LinkedIn and BlueSky for the latest updates.