Approximately 40% of Food Industry Workers Report Not Undergoing Stool Sample Testing; Demand for Home Collection and Mail-in System Reaches Approximately 66%

■The Reality of Stool Sample Testing Among Food Industry Workers

News of food poisoning is reported every year, and each time, concern for food safety increases.

Among these, stool sample testing is an important means to detect carriers of food poisoning bacteria early and prevent mass infections.

However, how many people actually undergo regular testing?

And what inconveniences do they feel on site?

Therefore, in collaboration with Moriyama Environmental Science Research Institute Co., Ltd., we conducted a survey on "The Reality of Food Poisoning Prevention and Stool Sample Testing" targeting 100 men and women nationwide who responded in a preliminary survey that they "are engaged in or have experience working in food-related jobs (food service, food manufacturing, school lunches, etc.)."

*When quoting the content of this press release, please take the following actions:

・State that the source is "a survey by NEXER Co., Ltd. and Moriyama Environmental Science Research Institute Co., Ltd."

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"Survey on the Reality of Food Poisoning Prevention and Stool Sample Testing" Overview

Survey method: Online questionnaire

Survey period: March 5 to March 13, 2026

Target respondents: Men and women nationwide who responded in a preliminary survey that they "are engaged in or have experience working in food-related jobs (food service, food manufacturing, school lunches, etc.)"

Valid responses: 100 samples

Questions:

Question 1: Do you regularly undergo stool sample testing at your workplace? *If you previously worked, please tell us about that time.

Question 2: Do you understand the purpose of undergoing stool sample testing?

Question 3: Which of the following do you know as the purpose of stool sample testing? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 4: Have you ever experienced any difficulties or inconveniences with stool sample testing at your workplace?

Question 5: What specific difficulties did you experience? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 6: If there were a system where you could collect samples at home and mail them, would you find it more convenient than workplace stool sample testing?

Question 7: Please tell us your reasons.

*As a general rule, values are rounded to the first decimal place, so the total may not always be 100%.

■40.0% Respond "Have Not Undergone Stool Sample Testing"

First, we asked whether they regularly undergo stool sample testing at their workplace.

As a result, "monthly" was 24.0%, "once every few months" was 17.0%, and "once a year" was 19.0%, totaling 60.0% for those who undergo some form of stool sample testing. On the other hand, 40.0% responded "have not undergone testing."

Among those who undergo regular testing, "monthly" was the most common, suggesting that while some workplaces thoroughly manage hygiene, there are significant differences in testing frequency and implementation among workplaces.

■86.0% Respond They "Understand" the Purpose of Stool Sample Testing

Next, we asked whether they understand the purpose of undergoing stool sample testing.

"Understand well" was 42.0%, and "understand to some extent" was 44.0%, with a total of 86.0% of people responding that they understand the purpose of stool sample testing. "Do not understand much" was 9.0%, and "hardly understand at all" was 5.0%.

14.0% of people undergo (or do not undergo) testing without fully understanding its purpose. Increasing opportunities for explanation and awareness-raising at workplaces may lead to an improvement in the testing rate.

■The Most Known Purpose of Stool Sample Testing is "Checking for Food Poisoning Bacteria Carriers" at 84.9%

Next, we asked those who responded that they understand the purpose of stool sample testing what specific purposes they know.

The most common response was "checking for food poisoning bacteria (Salmonella, O157, etc.) carriers" at 84.9%. This was followed by "part of food hygiene management" at 65.1%, "compliance with laws and hygiene standards" at 52.3%, "employee health management" at 50.0%, and "workplace safety management" at 39.5%.

When thinking of stool sample testing, the first thing that comes to mind is indeed checking for the presence of food poisoning bacteria. In fact, even if one carries bacteria like Salmonella or O157, there may be no subjective symptoms, making detection difficult without testing.

■18% Respond They "Have Experienced Difficulties" with Stool Sample Testing

Next, we asked whether they have ever experienced any difficulties or inconveniences with stool sample testing at their workplace.

18.0% responded "yes," and 82.0% responded "no."

While many people do not feel any particular inconvenience, about one in five people have experienced some kind of difficulty.

■The Top Difficulty is "Difficult to Time Stool Collection" at 55.6%

So, what specific difficulties do people experience?

We asked those who responded that they had experienced difficulties with stool sample testing what specific difficulties they encountered.

The most common response was "difficult to time stool collection" at 55.6%.

This was followed by "submission method is troublesome" at 27.8%, and "embarrassing to submit to the workplace," "frequent testing," and "sudden testing schedule makes preparation difficult" all at 11.1%.

The timing of stool collection is influenced by physical condition and daily rhythm, so many people find it difficult to adhere to a fixed schedule. Also, there seems to be a psychological barrier to bringing samples to the workplace.

■66.0% Respond They "Would Find a Home Collection and Mail-in System Convenient"

Finally, we asked whether they would find a system where they could collect samples at home and mail them more convenient than workplace stool sample testing.

"Strongly agree" was 24.0%, and "somewhat agree" was 42.0%, totaling 66.0% of people who responded that they would find a home collection and mail-in system convenient. "Do not agree much" was 24.0%, and "do not agree at all" was 10.0%.

We will introduce some of the reasons why they find it convenient.

Reasons for finding it convenient

Reasons for finding it convenient prominently included the ability to choose the time and timing oneself, and the elimination of psychological resistance to bringing samples to the workplace.

■Summary

This survey revealed that 40.0% of people with experience working in food-related jobs do not undergo stool sample testing. While a high percentage of 86.0% understood the purpose of the test, there is a gap with the implementation rate.

Regarding a system that allows home collection and mail-in, 66.0% responded that it would be convenient, with many opinions expecting flexibility in time and reduction of psychological burden.

Stool sample testing is essential for ensuring food safety.

Creating an environment where testing is easily accessible may raise the hygiene awareness of more workers and lead to the prevention of food poisoning.

・State that the source is "a survey by NEXER Co., Ltd. and Moriyama Environmental Science Research Institute Co., Ltd."

・Provide a link to Moriyama Environmental Science Research Institute Co., Ltd. (https://morewellec.jp/)

[About Moriyama Environmental Science Research Institute Co., Ltd.]

Representative Director: Masahiro Moriyama

Location: 3-87 Inagami-cho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 453-0066, Japan

TEL: 052-411-2386

[About NEXER Co., Ltd.]

Headquarters: Rise Arena Building 11F, 4-5-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013, Japan

Representative Director: Yuya Miyata

URL: https://www.nexer.co.jp

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