Background: Food contamination may occur at any point during its journey through production, processing, distribution, and preparation. The risk of food getting contaminated depends largely on the health status of the food handlers, their personal hygiene, knowledge and practice of food hygiene. Food borne diseases are a public health problem in developed and developing countries like Ethiopia. 

Method: A cross sectional study was conducted among food handlers in Addis Ababa student’s cafeteria from January to May 2013. Structured questionnaire was used to collect socio demographic data and associated risk factors. Stool specimens were examined for intestinal parasites following standard procedures.  

Result: A total of 172 food handlers were enrolled in the study. The majority of study participants were females 134 (77.9%). About 78 (45.3 %) of food handlers were found to be positive for different intestinal parasites with the most abundant parasite of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 68(70.8%) followed by Giardia lamblia 18(18.8%), Taenia species 5(5.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides 2(2.1%), Trichuris trichuria 1(1.1%) and Hookworm 2(2.1%). Conclusion: The present study revealed a high prevalence of intestinal parasite in asymptomatic (apparently health) food  handlers.