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Home  >  Medical Research Archives  >  Issue 149  > Impact of Food Hygiene on Purchase Intentions and its Mechanism in Bangkok Street Food under the Influence of COVID-19
Published in the Medical Research Archives
Aug 2023 Issue

Impact of Food Hygiene on Purchase Intentions and its Mechanism in Bangkok Street Food under the Influence of COVID-19

Published on Aug 29, 2023

DOI 

Abstract

 

This research examined the impact of the food hygiene perception of street food customers on their purchase intentions and its mechanism driven by their trust and perceived risk under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional data collected from 571 street food customers in Bangkok were computed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed a significant positive and direct influence of perceived food hygiene on customer purchase intentions (β=0.211; p<0.001). It also drove customer trust (β=0.726; p<0.001) and reduced perceived risk (β=-0.215; p<0.001). Customer trust was found to have a positive impact on purchase intentions (β=0.366; p<0.001), while perceived risk was negatively associated with purchase intentions (β=-0.264; p<0.001). In addition, the results confirmed a negative impact of customer trust on perceived risk (β=-0.371; p<0.001). Therefore, Sobel’s test results demonstrated partial positive moderations of customer trust (t= 8.211; p<0.001) and perceived risk (t= 4.066; p<0.001) between perceived food hygiene and purchase intentions. Finally, perceived was also found to partially and positively mediate between customer trust and purchase intentions (t= 5.289; p<0.001). This study provided novel and additional knowledge and evidence in the literature. It can also be applied as a guideline for street food operators and relevant governmental agents to raise the standard of street food sustainably under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Author info

Akaraphun Ratasuk

INTRODUCTION
Influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant business worldwide has struggled for years; restaurants were obligated to close or limit their businesses according to their governments to control and slow down the spreading of COVID-19, and the situation has just recently started to recover 1-4. However, COVID-19 still affects peoples lives, restaurants, and other businesses. One section in the restaurant industry that has been recovering faster than others is street food and limited-service restaurants since it provides low-priced food which can fulfill the needs of most people who are still in the shadow of the recession caused by the pandemic 5,6. In Thailand, recognized worldwide for spicy and flavorful Thai foods, street food is an important sector that yields millions of people in all classes as consumers and operators 7,8. It is expected to grow and generate more revenue than before the pandemic 5. The number of registered street food businesses in Thailand was 111,370 in 2019, which grew 4 % from the year before 9. In 2021, the street food industry had 180 million Baht in market value and was anticipated to approach 186 million Baht in the later year, despite the impacts of the pandemic, and expected to grow continuously by 3% from 2020 to 2024 9. The statistical data indicates that Thailand’s street food industry is relatively competitive since it is attractive to new players, with low barriers and start-up costs3,10,11.

Consequently, street food operators need competitive edges to compete, survive, and grow sustainably. In the big picture, the well-being of the street food industry partially reflects the strength of the local economy 12. To pursue sustainable development and competitive edges, street food operators and governmental supporting authorities should identify factors sustainably driving customer purchase intentions. One concern often mentioned and discussed in the street food business is food hygiene, particularly in underdeveloped and developing countries 13,14. Influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, people have increasingly become sensitive and actively alert about their health and well-being 3,15. This study proposed that food hygiene be tested to determine whether it can promote customer purchase intentions in the street food business in Bangkok. Even though there are prior studies on food hygiene in the street food industry 14,16,17, it is still limited, particularly in the context of Thailan’s street food and as an antecedent of customer purchase intentions. This research aims to investigate the roles of perceived food hygiene practices on customer purchase intentions and their mechanisms via customer trust and perceived risk hypothesized on the concept of the social exchange theory. The results should provide new knowledge, additional evidence to the related literature, and a guideline to street food operators and other stakeholders in supporting street food businesses to be more competitive and sustainably promote the local economy.

Literature Review
This research explores the roles of perceived food hygiene practices on customer purchase intentions and the mediating role of customer trust and perceived risk according to the concept of the social exchange theory.

Social exchange theory
The social exchange theory suggests that individuals analyze costs and benefits to determine whether to enter a relationship to maximize their benefit with minimal cost, and the relationship lasts as long as their benefit outweighs their costs in the relationship 18. This theory assumes that people always seek rewards while avoiding punishment, and it has been applied in diverse fields, particularly the business field, where it is employed to explain the relationship between businesses and their customers 19-21. The social exchange theory has been applied to several business contexts to explain the relationship between businesses and their customers 22,23. The theory proposes that consumers do not develop a relationship with businesses based on emotions and feelings but on their analysis determining economic risks and opportunities of engaging with businesses. This study employed this theory to explain the relationship between perceived food hygiene and customer purchase intentions and the mediating roles of customer trust and perceived risk in the street food business since customer purchase intention is a potential indicator of the relationship between businesses and their potential customers.

Purchase Decision-Making Process
According to Kotler 24, the purchase decision-making process is a six-stage flow of how a customer purchase decision is developed. The stages are problem recognition, information search, alternative evaluation, purchase intention, purchase decision, and post-purchase behavior; each stage happens in order, as shown in Figure 1. This process has been widely applied in various fields of business study to explain consumers purchasing decisions and   behaviors 25-29. Ratasuk  and Gajesanand 23 applied the purchase decision- making process to describe the repurchase intentions in gas-station chain coffee shops, a growing business in Thailand. The process starts with individuals who realize their needs and problems that need to be solved and fulfilled; then, they will start searching for information from available sources around them to create a list of possible alternatives. All alternatives will be evaluated for the best solution that can fulfill their needs and solve their problems; as a result, a purchase intention is developed, potentially leading to a purchase
decision. Finally, after the purchase, customers evaluate whether or how well their needs are fulfilled and whether the decision has solved their problems 30,31. This study employed the purchase decision-making process to explain the contributions of perceived food hygiene, customer trust, and perceived risk to customer purchase intentions in the street food business.

Figure 1 The purchase decision-making process, retrieved from Ratasuk 22

Purchase Intentions
Purchase intention refers to individuals willingness to purchase products or services from businesses within a certain period 24,32. It is a crucial
stage in the six-stage purchase decision-making process. It is created by the alternatives evaluation of consumers that analyze and compare the costs
and benefits of all available alternatives and select the one that best fits their needs 24,33. Many studies have used purchase intention in various contexts as a desired business outcome 34,35 and as an antecedent to several other outcomes, for example, customer  loyalty, word of mount intention, evangelism, and purchase behavior 36,37. Therefore, For example, Dash, Kiefer and Paul 38 found that brand identity, brand image, and customer satisfaction positively influence the  purchase intentions of real estate first-time home buyers. The study by Dwidienawati, Tjahjana, Abdinagoro and Gandasari  39  revealed  that  influencer review positively impacts purchase intention.

Customer Trust
Trust is defined as individuals strong belief or expectation that others are reliable and can fulfill their obligations; it plays a crucial role in maintaining relationships in society 2,10,40. Customer trust refers to customers positive attitudes towards businesses and their products and services so that they will convey the quality they expect 3,41. This research refers to customers’ trust in particular street food vendors that their foods and services will not harm them, particularly foodborne illness and COVID-19. Customer trust develops over time through customers positive experiences  with businesses products and services 3,42. It has determined several marketing and business solutions 43-45. For example, the study by Iglesias, Markovic, Bagherzadeh and Singh 46 found a significant contribution of customer trust to customer loyalty in online business in Spain. Dehghanpouri, Soltani and Rostamzadeh 47 also revealed that customer  trust  empirically  promotes  customer satisfaction and the success of e-CRM of taxpayers of East Azerbaijan province in Iran. Several factors can determine customer trust 3,48. Ratasuk and Gajesanand 2 found that customer trust can be promoted by food safety and the diminishing of perceived risk in the food delivery business in Bangkok. Ye, Ying, Zhou and Wang 41 also found significant positive influences of social connection, usefulness, and ease of use on customer trust of P2P accommodation users in China. The study by Islam, Islam, Pitafi, Xiaobei, Rehmani, Irfan and Mubarak 49 unveiled that CSR and customer satisfaction promote trust in telecom post-paid users.

Perceived Risk 
Perceived risk in this context is defined as customers perception of customers in dealing with an opportunity for loss and an expectation of undesired  outcomes  in deciding to purchase products and services 50,51. They also perceive a higher risk when encountering uncertainty or unexpected situations 52,53. In this study, customers may perceive the risk of foodborne illness and any possible illness related to COVID-19 that their street food consumption may cause. Customers business intentions and activities depend on the perceived risks in purchasing products and services 50,54,55. Perceived risk is often placed in customers considering purchasing products and services as a negative mechanism in their decision-making 50,56-58. Perceived risk has been reported to negatively encourage positive outcomes and positively drive preventive behaviors, such as customer trust, repurchase intentions, attractiveness, and many others 2,58-60. The study of Ratasuk and Gajesanand 3 unveiled a significant mediating role of perceived risk between perceived food safety and customer trust in the food delivery service industry. Yıldırım, Geçer  and  AkGÜL  61   found  a  significant  positive impact of perceived risk on preventive behaviors of COVID-19. According to Pattanapomgthorn, Sutduean and Keohavong 62, perceived risk was reported to diminish customer purchase intention in the GM food industry.

Perceived Food Hygiene
Food hygiene is crucial in controlling the risk of transferring pathogens to food, causing contamination that can lead to infectious diseases 63. Food hygiene refers to practices and conditions that individuals prepare and protect themselves and others from foodborne illnesses caused by microbial contamination to secure their health, lives, and well-being 64-67. The concept of food hygiene is close to food safety, and challenging to separate them apart that food hygiene is part and the primary determinant of food safety 65,68,69. Even though the concept of food safety has been found in several studies, food hygiene is still relatively limited and tends to be considered part of food safety 68-70. In restaurants, food hygiene conditions tend to be hidden in the kitchen that customers cannot see, leaving them to rely on what they can perceive in the front of the house, for example, staff appearance, utensils, and other physical  evidence 71. Food hygiene conditions are an essential indicator of food safety and potential risks from food consumption 72. It can lead to positive and negative outcomes, such as cognitive and affective images and customer satisfaction 64,73. In the literature, Läikkö-Roto and Nevas 74 found that perceived food hygiene depends on the attitudes and knowledge of restaurant operators.

Hypotheses Development
Hypotheses were developed according to the integration of the social exchange theory and the buying decision-making process as follows: Perceived food hygiene, customer trust, perceived risk, and customer purchase intentions According to the social exchange theory and the buying decision-making process, customers always seek information and identify available choices before comparing their benefits and costs to develop their purchase intentions 20,28. As food hygiene practices and conditions are a good indicator of food safety hazards concerning foodborne illness and other health concerns caused by consuming contaminated food, it is expected to play a crucial role in customer decision-making by driving customers positive attitudes, emotions, and confidence to purchase food from businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic which people are more concerned with their health and well-being than ever 2,3,75,76.

In the street food business, where customers rely mainly on their perception of food display and the practical operational process of street food operators that are exposed to an open environment as information to make purchase decisions, highly perceived hygiene street food stalls should be able to attract more customers by more effectively promoting their purchase intentions. This may be because perceived food hygiene as part of food safety should build customer trust, allowing customers to be confident in purchasing and consuming food from street stalls3,73,77. Once customers trust in a street vendor is created, customers tend to perceive a lower level of risk from purchasing and consuming street food products 2,57. As a result, customer purchase intentions should be developed after the level of trust and perceived risk on all available street vendors are considered and compared costs and benefits 2,57,78,79. Therefore, the following hypotheses were proposed.

H1: Perceived food hygiene positively influences purchase intentions
H2: Customer trust positively mediates the relationship between perceived food hygiene and purchase intentions 
H3: Perceived risk positively mediates the relationship between perceived food hygiene and purchase intentions

Methodology
Sample and data collection procedure
This study examined the influence of perceived hygiene and its mechanism via customer trust and perceived risk in the street food business in Bangkok, Thailand. This research is designed as a quantitative and cross-sectional study employing a survey with self-administered questionnaires for data collection. The research population is street food customers in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. The study sample was selected from customers of street food businesses in the Bangkok area who must be over 18 years old and can independently decide to participate in the study independently. Since the population cannot be determined, the researcher decided to set the sample size to be greater than 400, according to Lilliefors 80. The sample was selected employing stratified random sampling to ensure a sufficient representation of the sample of the research population. 81,82. The total area of Bangkok was divided into five districts: center, north, south, west, and east. In each district, one hundred and twenty qualified street  food  customers  were initially approached; therefore, six hundred qualified street food customers were initially approached. The survey took around three months to complete starting in early February and finishing in late April 2023. The survey participation was voluntary, and the questionnaire cover letter clearly stated the research objectives, the anonymity of the datacollection, and the instruction. The questionnaires have two parts, including participants characteristics and question sets measuring attitudes toward the latent variables.

Measures
All latent variables were measured using scales adapted from previous research that have proven valid and reliable. The scales were rated on
a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 or strongly disagree to 5 or strongly agree) and, to accommodate the sample group, all question items
were translated and presented in Thai. Purchase intention was measured using the four-item purchase intention scale adapted from Ghali-Zinoubi and Toukabri 83 and Curvelo, Watanabe and Alfinito 84. Sample items are I would buy food  from  this  street  stall. and I intend to continue buying from this store in the future. Customer trust was measured using the four-item customer trust scale adapted from Li, Teng and Chen 44, for example, I feel that that street vendor is trustworthy. and I have confidence in the food products and services of the street food vendor. Perceived risk was measured using the four-item perceived risk scale adapted from Ratasuk 22 and Joo, Xu, Lee, Lee and Woosnam 85, such as, Consuming foods from this street vendor increases my anxiety/stress related to foodborne illness and COVID-19 prevention. and Food products from this street vendor increase the risk of foodborne illness and COVID-19 infection. Perceived food hygiene was measured using the five-item perceived food hygiene scale adapted from Yu, Seo and Hyun 64. Sample items are The surfaces of the work and service area of this street food business is clean and The street food operator dress properly, clean, and wear a mask at all times.

Control variable
Four control variables, including gender, age, income, and education, were included in this research because they have been proven to impact perceived food hygiene to provide alternatives to the latent variables 3.

Data analysis
This research selected partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses. According to Hair Jr, Howard and Nitzl
86, PLS-SEM, unlike CB-SEM, does not require normally distributed data, and it has been proven to produce more accurate results with less bias for
non-normal distributed data than CB-SEM, while collected survey data is often found non-normal. Besides, Hair Jr, Matthews, Matthews and Sarstedt
87 stated that PLS-SEM is suitable for a complex research model with many relationships among many variables that require simultaneous analysis.
This research employed the WarpPLS 8.0 software for ease and accurate analysis results. The following statistics were proceeded and reported in
the analysis before the PLS-SEM analysis; descriptive statistics, convergent and discriminant validity, reliability, multicollinearity, common method bias, normality, and model-fit indices. Lastly, the mediation was tested using the Sobel test Five hundred seventy-one valid 88,89. 

Results
The data collection methodology and tool have passed the review process and met all requirements of the Research Ethics Committee (REC) as a reference number of PIM-REC 036/2563 granted. questionnaires were returned, accounting for a 95.16% response rate. Table 1 shows that most of the participants were female, 394 (69%). Of all participants, 482 (84.4%) were 20 to 25 years old. 265 (46.4%) earn between 10,000 – 20,000 Baht. Moreover, 348 (60.9%) have undergraduate degrees.

Table 1 Sample characteristics

Before the hypothesis testing, several dimensions of model quality were tested as follows: Starting from convergent validity tested using factor loadings which is ideal when they are no less than 0.7 90. The convergent validity of this study is ideal because all factor loadings of all variables were above 0.7, as shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Indicator loadings and cross-loadings of latent variables

Note: Purchase=purchase intentions, Trust=customer trust, Risk=perceived risk, Hygiene=perceived food hygiene.
 
Secondly, the discriminant validity was tested by comparing square root values of each variables average variance extracted (AVE) with other related correlations with other variables 90,91. As shown in Table 3, All variables AVEs are higher than their relevant correlations, which means that the discriminant validity of the model is satisfactory. Thirdly, the models reliability was tested using Cronbachs alpha and composite reliability coefficients, which are suggested at least 0.7 to be acceptable 92. The coefficients range from 0.735 to 1.000, indicating that the models reliability was satisfactory, as shown in Table 3. Fourthly, the multicollinearity and common method bias (CMB) were tested using the complete variance inflation factor (VIF) values, which should not be higher than 3.3 to be ideal and 5 to be acceptable 86,93,94. All full VIF values are lower than 3.3, except physical evidence that is 3.723 which is still less than 5 indicating no sign of a critical multicollinearity and CMB issues. 

Table 3 Correlation among variables and the square root of the average variance extracted

Note ** and * mean a p-value of <0.01 and ≤0.05, respectively; Purchase=purchase intentions, Trust=customer trust, Risk=perceived risk, Hygiene=perceived food hygiene, Gen=gender, Age=age of the participant, Income=monthly income; and Edu=education level; the square root values of the AVE are presented in parentheses.

The normality test results from the PLS-SEM indicated that, out of the four latent variables, only perceived food hygiene was normally distributed, which means PLS-SEM is appropriate in this study, as shown in Table 4.

Table 4 Normality Test Results

Note: Purchase=purchase intentions, Trust=customer trust, Risk=perceived risk, Hygiene=perceived food hygiene, Gen=gender, Age=age of the participant, Income= monthly income, and Edu=education level Finally, overall model quality was tested using the ten model-fit indices computed by PLS- SEM analysis, as shown in Table 5 95. The model- fit indices show that all indices were ideal and acceptable, indicating that the overall model quality is good.

Table 5: PLE-SEM model fit indices

Note ** and * mean a p-value of <0.01 and ≤0.05, respectively.

Hypothesis Testing Results
The results of all three hypotheses proposed in this study are reported in Figure 1 and in descriptive form as follows:

Figure 1 Structural equation model results
Note ** and * mean a p-value of <0.01 and ≤0.05, respectively.

Figure 1 presents the PLS-SEM analysis results as follows:

Hypothesis 1 Perceived food hygiene positively impacts purchase intentions. The PLS-SEM results demonstrated a significant positive association between the two variables (β=0.211; p<0.001). Hence, hypothesis 1 was supported.
Hypothesis 2 Customer trust positively mediates the relationship between perceived food hygiene and purchase intentions. The PLS-SEM results showed significant positive influences of perceived food hygiene on customer trust (β=0.726; p<0.001) and customer trust on purchase intentions (β=0.366; p<0.001). Along with the hypothesis 1 result, the Sobel test recommended by Hayes and Preacher 89 revealed a partially positive mediating effect on the relationship between perceived food hygiene and purchase intentions (t=8.211; p<0.001). Thereby, hypothesis 2 was supported.
Hypothesis 3 Perceived risk positively mediates the relationship between perceived food hygiene and purchase intentions. The results revealed significant adverse impacts of perceived food hygiene on perceived risk (β=-0.215; p<0.001) and perceived risk on purchase intentions (β=-0.264; p<0.001).

Regarding hypothesis 1, the Sobel test suggested by Hayes and Preacher 89 indicated a partially positive mediating effect of perceived risk on the significant positive relationship between the two variables (t=4.066; p<0.001). Thereby, hypothesis 3 was supported. The researcher further investigated the mediating role of perceived risk on the relationship between customer trust and purchase intentions. Since the results indicated significant and adverse effects of customer trust on perceived risk (β=0.211; p<0.001) along with other results, the Sobel test suggested by Hayes and Preacher 89 revealed that perceived risk partially and positively mediated between customer trust and purchase intentions (t=5.289; p<0.001). Furthermore, the findings also showed that out of the four control variables, including gender, age, income, and education, only gender (β=- 0.076; p=0.034) and education (β=0.087; p=0.018) significantly influenced perceived food hygiene. 

Discussion
This research examined the essence of food hygiene in building customer purchase intentions and the mediation of customer trust and perceived risk as its mechanism in the Bangkok street food business. The results indicated that customers who perceive a high level of food hygiene tend to have higher purchase intentions than those who perceive less. This result fulfills the research problem that street food operators need to develop and enhance their competitive edges for sustainable success by knowing what can promote their customer purchase intentions exhibited by their growing health concerns that have grown significantly under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even though prior studies on the association between perceived food hygiene and purchase intentions are minimal, the result is aligned with the prior study by Ratasuk and Gajesanand 2 that food safety, which is the closest concept to food hygiene, has a significant impact on customer repurchase intentions in the food delivery service business in Bangkok. It is also concurrent with the studies of Cui, Jiang, Deng and Zhang 75 and Hsu, Chang and Lin 76 that food safety can determine purchase intentions of online food markets and organic food businesses. The study of Abidin 67 also found the positive impact of food hygiene on customer purchase  intentions  in restaurants. These prior findings may be caused by the significant growth of peoples health concerns that has proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results from the Sobel test confirming the mediations of customer trust and perceived risk as the mechanism allowing perceived hygiene to promote purchase intentions were also in line with prior research; for example, the study by Shafieizadeh, Alotaibi and Tao 77 stated that food hygiene as part of food safety enhances customer trust in restaurants.

Ratasuk and Gajesanand 3 also found that food safety contributes significantly to food delivery customers trust directly and via the mediation of perceived risk. Ventre and Kolbe 57 found that trust lowers customers risk perception and promote online purchase intentions. Moreover, Ratasuk and Gajesanand 2 also unveiled that perceived  risk and customer trust partially mediated the relationship between customer- perceived food safety and repurchase intentions in Bangkoks food delivery business. The research by Abidin 67 suggested that risk positively mediated between food  hygiene quality and purchase intentions in restaurants in Malaysia. The mediation may be explained that food hygiene fosters customer confidence in food products, allowing them rely on businesses. Once customers trust a business, they tend to lower their guard and perceive lower risk. Therefore, individuals who perceive a  high level of food hygiene tend to have higher purchase intentions because food hygiene foster their trust allowing them to lower their guard perceiving lower risk. These findings are aligned with the explanations of the purchasing decision-making process and the social exchange theory. The two can be integrated to explain the results that product purchasing can be regarded as the relationship between a business and a customer after considering alternatives and information gathered from available resources after realizing their needs, and the relationship last as long as the benefits of both parties outnumber their costs 24.

In the alternative-evaluation stage, customers compare the benefits of each alternative to its costs 2,22,23. The benefits from purchasing a product that build customer confidence and trust in businesses, offset their costs, such as risk perception from consuming the product and not to choose otheralternatives 2,3. According to Shiau and Luo 19, the social exchange theory can explain the relationship between businesses and customers in the online shopping industry. Hsiao, Ma, Manfreda, Baker and Xu 96 also employed social exchange theory in boosting customer loyalty which is a strong tied between customers and businesses in the hotel industry in Australia. Moreover, the study by Ratasuk and Gajesanand 2 applied the integration of the two theories to explain the relationship between customers and food delivery businesses. Lastly, the influences of control variables on food hygiene can be interpreted that female customers tend to value and pay more attention to food hygiene than male customers. Also, customers with higher levels of education tend to value and focus more on food hygiene than those with lower levels of education in purchasing street foods.

Conclusion
In the street food business context, according to the findings, under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, people tend to be more sensitive, concerned, and alert with health and well- being issues than ever2,3, decent food hygiene practices and evidence, for example, the operators personal hygiene, food handling process, and surrounding environments, tend to drive customers to feel safer with their consumption by gaining their trust that food purchased from the vendor are safe to consume and do no harm to their life and well- being. The created trust also makes them confident in purchasing and consuming the street food allowing them to perceive minimal risk that they may experience from street food consumption, such as foodborne illness caused by contamination, and less concerned with COVID-19 that can be airborne spreading and infected. However, no such evidence exists that food hygiene can limit the spread of COVID-19. As a result, their purchase intentions are promoted. Moreover, female and educated customers, according the results, tend to value food hygiene and include it in their consideration when purchasing street food than others.

Academic contributions
According to the results, this research provides novel and valuable knowledge on the role of food hygiene in driving purchase intentions, which
is still limited in the literature. In particular, the food hygiene concept applied as a latent variable in a quantitative study is minimal. This research also
provides additional knowledge and evidence on the relationships among food hygiene, customer trust, perceived risk, and purchase intentions explained by the social exchange theory and the purchase decision-making process in the literature, regarded as a new aspect of the theories. Moreover, the mediating roles of customer trust and perceived risk as the mechanism of how perceived food hygiene promotes purchase intentions, particularly in the street food business under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic context, are also limited and need to be further explored.

Practical contributions and suggestions
Furthermore, the research findings provide practical implications to street food operators and all relevant industry stakeholders, such as government units responsible for improving the street food industry and the local economy. Street food operators should keep their stalls and stores clean and look pleasant to build customers confidence and trust that their foods are safe and free from foodborne illness and other health concerns, for example, they should always have their spaces clean and organized. They should always have their food covered to prevent contamination from dust and other unwanted from the street and surrounding unclean air. The operators should always dress appropriately and professionally for food preparation and cooking, such as wearing a hat or hair net, gloves, an apron, and a mask to prevent food contamination.

They should always wash their hands and use disposable food containers and utensils instead of those that require washing due to the difficulty in supplying clean water at the site. This should build customers confidence and promote their purchase intentions and business competitiveness. As for any relevant government units mandated and functioning to support the street food industry to achieve sustainable goals that can generate prosperity in the local economic system, they should encourage street food operators to pursue knowledge and standard practices, particularly food hygiene and food safety. They can organize free training programs for the operators and certify them. The program can be held yearly, and the certificates can be used as a guarantee for the standard hygiene and safety of their stores and food products, valid for one year or longer, that is required to renew by undertaking the training program every year to sustainable results and success. They can also enact a law requiring all street food operators to be certified to register and operate their businesses. These actions are expected to sustainably promote food safety in the street food business and enhance Thai street food\\\'s charm, attracting people worldwide to visit the country and generating more revenue.

Limitations and recommendations for future studies
Although this study provides valuable contributions, such as new knowledge and evidence supporting the existing literature, particularly in the foodservice and street food, there are still some limitations. Since this research is a cross-sectional study, causing the restriction in confirming the causal relationships, the results were restricted to only association between variables, not causation. Also, this study employed a self-administered survey from one data source, street food customers, which may have caused subjective bias in the results. Future related studies are suggested to collect data from various sources, for example, other related stakeholders in the industry, like street food operators and relevant government agencies, to vary the data sources. Future studies should also include other potential variables that may significantly impact the variables to expand the literature and the theories, such as customer trust, loyalty, word-of-mouth, and repurchase intentions. Other theories can also be integrated and applied to expand the existing knowledge and the literature. Finally, future studies are suggested to explore similar models in different industries and contexts.

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