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Article History

Received: 12 November 2024

Accepted: 13 October 2025

First Online: 18 November 2025

Declarations

:

: The authors declare no competing interests.

: This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of research as outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from Debre Tabor University, with reference number DTU306/3024. All participants provided informed consent, and measures were taken to ensure confidentiality and the ethical treatment of all subjects involved in the research.

: You are invited to participate in a research study on the microbial contamination of fresh vegetables in South Gondar Zone markets. The purpose of this study is to understand contamination levels, identify contributing factors, and explore public health implications. If you agree to participate, we will observe vegetable handling practices, ask a few questions about food safety practices, and collect vegetable samples for lab analysis. Your participation is completely voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time without any consequences. All information will be kept confidential, and your identity will not appear in any reports. Do you understand the purpose of this study and agree to participate?”

: If the participant agrees, the researcher will mark the consent as given: Researcher’s signature, Date.