Prevailing Food Safety and Sustainability Practices in Grocerants: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Countries

Ensuring food safety while advancing sustainability is increasingly recognised as a dual imperative for modern food systems. However, the interconnection between food safety and sustainability at the retail and food service levels remains underexplored. This study is aimed at assessing and comparing the prevailing food safety practices (FSP) and sustainability practices (SUST) among grocerants, which are hybrid outlets combining grocery retail and restaurant functions, in Ghana, Poland, and India. A structured 28-indicator observational checklist (14 FSP and 14 SUST indicators) was applied during unannounced audits of 150 grocerants. The analysis revealed significant cross-country differences in compliance levels for both sections. Polish grocerants achieved comparatively the highest mean scores, reflecting advanced hygiene management and proactive SUST, whereas Ghanaian and Indian outlets exhibited moderate compliance. Cluster analysis identified three groups representing low-, transitional-, and high-maturity stages of sustainable food safety performance. Grocerants with stronger food safety compliance also demonstrated higher sustainability engagement, suggesting an association between the two domains. The findings highlight differences in regulatory enforcement and managerial commitment across various contexts, contributing to the development of the concept of sustainable food safety management, which links hygiene compliance with environmental and social responsibility in emerging retail formats.