500 food handlers in Kut city in wasit Governorate were evaluated for their knowledge & practice of certain aspects of food hygiene They were aJso screened for nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus as well as for enteric pathogens and parasites . Housing conditions & working places were also evaluated & inspected . Positive responses to selected food hygiene behaviours such as handwashing before handling food and wearing of dresses were encouraging .However, only a very small proportion (8.8%) were observed to have actually washed their hands between handling cooked & uncooked foods . The nasal carriage of staphy-lococcas aureus was very low (1.8%) ..This is discussed . The significance of the isolation of the different enteropathogons is discussedlThe greater proportion of the food handlers were of low level of education & a periodic programme of health education on food safety hygiene is important to lert them of their responsibilities