Perceptions of the Impact of COVID-19 Countermeasures on Safe Foodservice Provision at International Sporting Competitions: A Qualitative Study
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The following sections need to be revised.
- Title: Line number 2-83 - “Perceptions of the Impact of COVID-19 Countermeasures on Safe Foodservice Provision at International Sporting Competitions; A Qualitative Study” - to be revised and rephrased for clarity especially in term used at the end i.e. ‘A Qualitative Study’ as this includes a methodology in a title which is irrelevant as opposed to having a title that is specific in adequately and concisely addressing the content of this paper and study problem.
- Abstract - Line number 19-20: Revise to include a more detailed summary of the qualitative methodology used e.g. the Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)used, sample size, design, method of administration etc.
Line 22-26: It’s better to write in prose and avoid numbering the abstract.
Line 27-32: Can you provide some numerical data on these findings e.g. in percentages for the qualitative data analysed? Can give a range and the level of significance tested for some of the parameters tested?
Line 33-35: Some practical conclusions and recommendation with regard to COVID-19 and future pandemics would be relevant here.
- Introduction - This section is not comprehensive enough to capture the research focus and should be revised to include some key information of the selected heavy metals i.e. mercury and cadmium. Line number 52 - 53: By who? citations in general? This should be highlighted before giving some key examples.
Line 53-58: There is a disconnect in the flow of information here, should be revised for clarity and a logical sequence of the information. Line 64-65 - add citation to support the fact stated.
- Methodology, Line number 139-147, start with the experimental design with the selected study cohorts used so that its’ easier to follow the methodology used in this study. This section is missing. The study period is very short and should be explained in the design especially how sampling was done in that short period of time. The sample size is too small to conclusively analyse the data. What was the basis for the basis for the sampling size? sampling method and procedure used? Was this sample size adequate in obtaining required data? Study site description is missing.
- Results and discussion, Line 206-209: Table 1 - This table is too wordy and lengthy which makes interpretation of the findings difficult for the reader. Can be analysed better by splitting into different tables under different sub-themes or related topics. It does not indicate the statistical data, more of raw data, revise. Line 210 – 253: No data in form of Tables or Figures so it's feels like a review, should be revised to include data in each sub-section to support the narrative presented. Line 261 - Figure 1. Schematic of Key Stakeholder Themes and Subthemes of COVID-19 Impact on Foodser-261 vice Systems – add legend to explain key features of the graphical data presented.
The discussion section should be strengthened to be more comprehensive in explaining the trends observed more thoroughly and should be cited using current literature information for relevancy.
- Conclusion and recommendation: OK but give way forward for future follow up studies with large sample size and a better design.
- References - Update with recent citations. Add DOIs for each article and website links to the reports including dates accessed.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see attached
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper "Perceptions of the Impact of COVID-19 Countermeasures on Safe Foodservice Provision at International Sporting Competitions; A Qualitative Study" present a well-conducted research related to an important topic focus on sustainability and COVID-19 situation in the sports competitions as Olympic games, conducted thought qualitative research.
Authors should improve the content with respect to the previous and present theoretical background and empirical research on the topic.
The quality and clearness of the results should be improved; and the conclusions should be revised and to be well-alligned to the aims and results.
The authors should add a graphical abstract.
The authors also should provide in the conclusion the practical and public health implications of the research paper.
References should be revised, according to the journal author's guidelines.
Author Response
Please see attached
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
