A meta-analytic review of food safety risk perception

Consumer behavior and its role in E. coli outbreaks: the impact of fast-food preparation practices and hygiene awareness

BACKGROUND

The fast-food industry, a rapidly expanding business due to the influence of urbanization and busy lifestyles, has significantly shaped consumer food habits and quality food-seeking behavior. However, this fast-growing sector is frequently challenged by bacteria of clinical, microbiological, and economic importance, including Escherichia coli (E. coli). While many strains of E. coli are harmless and support digestion, pathogenic variants such as E. coli O157:H7 are responsible for severe foodborne illnesses, public health crises, and economic losses.

MAIN BODY

Our study explores consumer behavior within the fast-food industry, highlighting its role in shaping responses to E. coli outbreaks. Also, it examines how increased awareness of food safety risks has influenced consumer decisions, such as adopting hygienic practices and preferring establishments that prioritize food safety. Furthermore, the study investigates the contribution of poor fast-food preparation practices-such as undercooking and cross-contamination-to the spread of E. coli and emphasizes the critical need for improved hygiene awareness among fast-food workers. We analysed notable case studies involving E. coli outbreaks linked to fast-food chains, and subsequently identified gaps in industry practices and consumer behavior that exacerbate the risk of foodborne illnesses. This emphasizes the importance of preventive measures, including industry-driven reforms such as enhanced food handling protocols and consumer education programs, to mitigate future outbreaks.

CONCLUSIONS

This study aims to provide evidence-based insights into the shared responsibility of fast-food establishments and consumers in reducing the prevalence of E. coli infections. By addressing gaps in hygiene awareness and preparation practices, the findings emphasize the potential for collaborative efforts to strengthen public health outcomes and prevent further outbreaks.

Consumers' attitudes, perceptions and willingness to try hazelnut skins-fed beef

Consumers are raising concerns over the ethical and social acceptability of feeding regimes used in animal-based food productions. However, the use of agro-industrial by-products, such as hazelnut skins as a strategy to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production may be negatively perceived from the consumer's perspective. Here, we investigated the factors predicting consumers' intentions to try meat obtained from cattle fed hazelnut skins. Nine hundred Italian regular meat consumers were recruited via an online provider of market research panels. Three different framings were presented to consumers as meat products fed with food industry by-products vs possessing either feed quality or an environmental benefit. Consumers generally responded positively to the product when they were informed that it helps promote sustainable production, reduces food waste, or improves feed quality, with no significant difference between framings. Consumers who reported not to be very concerned about feeding methods and to have a low green self-identity tended to be more skeptical towards the use of alternative feeds. The level of neophobia significantly influenced the respondents' risk perceptions. Our findings suggest that product characteristics and risk and benefit perceptions will significantly influence the acceptance of hazelnut skins as feed ingredient. The factor "environmental benefits" was a key predictor of "willingness to try", while concerns about the potential health effects were identified as a major barrier to accepting novel feed alternatives. This research confirms the great need to educate consumers in order to empower meat choices that are environmentally friendly at the production system level.

Pesticide risk perception as an attitudinal mediator: Exploratory research with farm managers and consumers

Pesticide use poses significant risks to human health and the environment. However, the public perception of pesticides is characterized by a number of factors, including risk perception. This study aimed to investigate the role of risk perception in two models: a) as a mediator between personal norms and pro-environmental attitudes of farm managers and b) as a mediator of trust in the purchase intention of consumers. For farmers, the Norm Activation Model was used. A mediation model explored the relationship between personal norms, risk perception, and pro-environmental attitudes. Among consumers a trust model, based on trust in food toolkit, was used. The risk perception and knowledge were examined as mediators between trust in the food system and purchase intentions. Data were collected in-person through questionnaires from 37 farm managers and 202 consumers in Brazil. Results indicate that risk perception is a critical factor influencing both farmers' and consumers' decisions. While farm managers' pro-environmental attitudes were partially mediated by risk perception, consumers' purchase intentions were primarily driven by a combination of risk perception, knowledge, and trust. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, including public education, regulatory enhancements, and transparent communication, to mitigate pesticide-related risks.

Consumer Safety and Pesticide Residues: Evaluating Mitigation Protocols for Greengrocery

The application of pesticides remains a necessary measure for pest management in agriculture, particularly in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. After harvest, the presence of pesticide residues in greengrocery (fruits and vegetables) is significantly influenced by various factors, including storage conditions, handling practices, and subsequent processing methods. The mitigation of these residues to levels compliant with regulated maximum thresholds ensures the safety of raw and processed fruits and vegetables for consumption. A contemporary survey of pesticide residues in greengrocery has gathered considerable attention from consumers, driven by concerns over the potential health risk of pesticide exposure. Consequently, consumers want to be extensively informed about household processing techniques to minimize associated risks. Meanwhile, a critical question arises: does household processing effectively eliminate pesticide residues? A comprehensive review of the literature reveals that conventional methods, such as washing and soaking, offer only limited reduction in residue levels, while emerging treatments, suitable both at household and industrial scale, demonstrate increased efficiency in residues mitigation. This study aims to emphasise the ubiquitous use of pesticides in crop cultivation while providing recommendations for the implementation of efficient treatment protocols to address residue concerns. Following upon available evidence and database mining, the worldwide purpose must be to outline agriculturally and economically viable strategies that prioritize both the health and safety of consumers, as well as the green cultivation and processing of fruits and vegetables.

Food service safety and hygiene factors: a longitudinal study on the Brazilian consumer perception

The objective of this study was to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of consumers toward food service safety and hygiene when purchasing ready-to-eat food. Data were collected at three time points: before (T0) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (T1 and T2). Among the 333 participants, 45.9% reported fear of contracting COVID-19 when purchasing off-site meals, and 78.4% for on-site meals in T1, compared to 21.0 and 52.0% in T2, respectively (p < 0.001). Hygiene and cleanliness of the establishment became less important for participants when selecting food services throughout the pandemic (T0: 42.6%; T1: 41.1%; T2: 0.0%; p < 0.01). Security protocols during off-site and on-site purchases were considered important by more participants in T1 (47.7 and 27.6%, respectively) than in T0 (28.8 and 9.0%, respectively), with a decrease in T2 (0 and 16.5%, respectively; p < 0.01). Regarding food delivery services, concerns about hygiene decreased in T1 (44%) compared to T0 (63.7%) but increased again in T2 (76%; p < 0.01). Precautions with the food packaging was less prevalent at least during one point in the pandemic compared to T0 (p < 0.01), while heating food before consumption was more common at the onset of the pandemic (T1) but declined by T2 (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the use of cash decreased while contactless payment methods increased during the pandemic. In conclusion, different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced consumer behavior and attitudes toward purchasing ready-to-eat food.

Mediating Roles of Perceived Quality and Perceived Behaviour Control in Shaping Chinese Consumer's Purchase Intention for Domestic Infant Milk Formula (IMF)

The 2008 melamine crisis led to widespread consumer distrust of Chinese domestic infant milk formula (IMF), which was substituted through a surge of imported products. Recent studies, however, suggest a revival in consumer confidence in Chinese domestic products and regulatory supervision. This coincides with a rise in consumer ethnocentrism and increased concern about foreign IMF, which arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to investigate the multifaceted factors that influence consumers' intention to purchase domestic IMF, using a structural equation model based on a survey of 563 online consumers. Our findings challenge conventional thinking that food safety governance, consumer ethnocentrism, and COVID-19 have no significant direct impact on IMF purchase decisions. Instead, consumer purchase intentions are driven more indirectly by mediating factors of perceived product quality and perceived behavioural control. The findings have significant implications for Chinese policymakers and industry stakeholders seeking to rebuild trust and strengthen the market position of domestic IMF in the post-melamine and post-pandemic era. By understanding the nuanced dynamics and consumer preferences in this market, international stakeholders can also develop more effective strategies to navigate and compete in the ever-evolving landscape of the Chinese IMF industry.

Confronting Views of Companies and Authorities on Food Safety Issues-A Cross-Country Survey

This study investigated food safety issues as perceived by food companies and food safety authorities in six countries in Europe and Central Asia. A total of 66 companies and 16 authorities participated in the survey. The results provide important insights related to what the main food safety priorities are, how they are addressed in the countries that participated in the survey, and what the role of the main stakeholders is in the food value chain. Almost 50% of food companies identified 'food fraud' as the most influential food safety attribute. One-third of food safety authorities recognized 'food safety management system' as the most influential food safety attribute. Principal component analysis separated food safety statements into two dimensions named 'food safety hazards and risks' and 'food safety system'. Although there are slight differences in food safety statements between the two stakeholders, i.e., food companies and food safety authorities, it is the country of origin that plays a more important role in understanding their views. Food companies will need to implement a systemic approach and transform the entire food value chain continuum while considering new food safety challenges. It is expected that food safety authorities will have to play a more proactive role in the future.

A 30-year trend of dairy consumption and its determinants among income groups in Iranian households

Introduction

Milk and dairy products provide essential nutrients and have the potential to prevent chronic diseases, thus reducing healthcare costs. However, there is a lack of consistent and updated data on dairy consumption trends in Iran. This study aims to analyze the trends in dairy consumption among Iranian households from 1991 to 2021, focusing on household-level determinants across different expense groups.

Methods

The study uses data from the Iranian Household Expenditure and Income Survey conducted annually from 1991 to 2021 to analyze households' dairy consumption. The data includes values and expenses of food and non-food items purchased in the previous month, as well as demographic characteristics of household members. The households were categorized into 10 deciles based on their gross expense. The econometric model used weighted mean per capita milk, yogurt, cheese, and total dairy consumption based on milk equivalent for each decile. The model takes into account changes in income, prices, household composition, education level, occupation, and residency area using panel data. Data preparation and model estimation were performed using RStudio and STATA17 software.

Results

Based on the findings, in 1991, per capita milk, yogurt, and cheese consumption were 26.77 kg, 16.63 kg, and 2.42 kg, respectively. By 2021, these figures changed to 22.68 kg, 11.06 kg, and 3.79 kg, reflecting a decrease in milk and yogurt consumption but an increase in cheese consumption. Family size was positively correlated with yogurt consumption and head of the household spouse's job score were positively correlated with milk, yogurt and cheese consumption. Also, the presence of under five-year-old children and older adults members (over the age of 60) in the household was inversely related with yogurt and cheese consumption. Female-headed households tended to purchase more cheese, while their milk purchase level was significantly lower. Residing in urban areas was negatively related to milk, while cheese and total dairy consumption was higher in urban areas.

Discussion

The findings highlight the importance of targeted dairy subsidy interventions and educational programs to improve dairy consumption in Iranian households, especially among vulnerable groups. This will require urging policymakers and food system stakeholders for effective strategies that address macro-level factors to promote dairy consumption.

Eurasian consumers' food safety beliefs and trust issues in the age of COVID-19: evidence from an online survey in 15 countries

BACKGROUND

This investigation provides an important insight into Eurasian consumers' food safety beliefs and trust issues influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was conducted in 15 European and Asian countries involving more than 4000 consumers.

RESULTS

It has confirmed that different socioeconomic characteristics, cultural aspects and education levels shape food safety perceptions within Eurasian countries. The COVID-19 pandemic influenced their beliefs and trust in food safety, which is relatively low on average. However, it is significantly higher for European consumers (especially European Union ones) compared to their Asian counterparts. Both Asian and European respondents agreed that food fraud and climate changes represent a food safety issue. However, European consumers were less concerned regarding the food safety of genetically modified foods and meat and dairy analogs/hybrids. Asian consumers were, to a greater extent, worried about the risk of getting COVID-19 from food, restaurants, food retail establishments and home food deliveries.

CONCLUSION

Eurasian consumers have put their greatest extent of trust, when food safety assurance is concerned, into food scientists and food producers holding a food safety certificate. Broadly, they are uncertain to what extent their federal governments and food inspectors are competent, able and efficient in ensuring food safety. Higher education of Eurasian consumers was followed by increased food safety confidence in all parts of the food chain. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Let's talk about PFAS: Inconsistent public awareness about PFAS and its sources in the United States

The presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in U.S. drinking water has recently garnered significant attention from the media, federal government, and public health professionals. While concerns for PFAS exposure continue to mount, the general public's awareness and knowledge of the contaminant has remained unknown. This exploratory study sought to fill this data gap by administering a nationwide survey in which the awareness of PFAS and community contamination, awareness of PFAS containing products and intentions to change product use, and awareness and concern about PFAS in drinking water were assessed. The results indicated that almost half the respondents had never heard of PFAS and do not know what it is (45.1%). Additionally, 31.6% responded that they had heard of PFAS but do not know what it is. A large portion of respondents (97.4%) also responded that they did not believe their drinking water had been impacted by PFAS. Demographic association did not influence knowledge of PFAS or levels of concern with PFAS in drinking water. The strongest predictor of PFAS awareness was awareness due to known community exposure. The respondents aware of community exposure were more likely to have knowledge of PFAS sources, change their use of items with potential PFAS contamination, and answer that their drinking water sources were also contaminated with PFAS. Based on the received responses, PFAS information and health risks need to be better communicated to the public to help increase awareness. These efforts should also be coordinated between government agencies, utilities, the research community, and other responsible entities to bolster their effectiveness.

A study on the influencing factors and related paths of farmer's participation in food safety governance-based on DEMATEL-ISM-MICMAC model

Farmers' participation in food safety governance is an important part of food safety social co-governance, and the accurate identification of its influencing factors and their related paths is of guiding significance to the scientific decision-making of food safety governance. The system of influencing factors of farmers' participation in food safety governance was constructed from four dimensions, and the influence network of each dimension was revealed by decision laboratory analysis (DEMATEL). The hierarchical structure and correlation path of influencing factors were determined by interpretive structural model (ISM), and the attributes of influencing factors were further classified by cross influence matrix multiplication (MICMAC). The results show that the influencing factors of farmers' participation in food safety governance can be divided into seven levels, among which the level of education and the status of village cadres are the fundamental characteristic factors. The degree of rural informatization, the intensity of government supervision, the promotion of village committees, the response of the government and the degree of disclosure of government information are the deep core factors, and risk cognition, political trust and family eating habits are special factors. Taking the importance and attribute status of farmers' participation in food safety governance into decision-making considerations is of great significance to improve the efficiency of food safety governance.

How Perspectives on Food Safety of Vendors and Consumers Translate into Food-Choice Behaviors in 6 African and Asian Countries

Background

Consumption of unsafe foods increases morbidity and mortality and is currently an issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Policy actions to ensure food safety are dominated by mitigation of biological and chemical hazards through supply-side risk management, lessening the degree to which consumer perspectives of food safety are considered.

Objectives

This study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding, from vendor and consumer perspectives, of how food-safety concerns of consumers translate into their subsequent food-choice behaviors in 6 diverse low- and middle-income countries.

Methods

Six Drivers of Food Choice projects (2016-2022) provided transcripts from 17 focus group discussions and 343 interviews conducted in Ghana, Guinea, India, Kenya, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify emerging themes important to food safety.

Results

The analysis suggests that consumers constructed meaning about food safety through personal lived experience and social influences. Community and family members contributed knowledge about food safety. Concerns about food safety were influenced by reputations of and relationships with food vendors. Consumers' mistrust of food vendors was amplified by purposeful adulteration or unsafe selling practices and new methods used to produce food. Moreover, consumers were reassured of food safety by positive relationships with vendors; meals cooked at home; implementation of policies and following regulations; vendor adherence to environmental sanitation and food-hygiene practices; cleanliness of vendors' appearance; and vendors' or producers' agency to use risk mitigation strategies in production, processing, and distribution of food.

Conclusions

Consumers integrated their meanings, knowledge, and concerns about food safety to achieve assurance about the safety of their foods when making food-choice decisions. The success of food-safety policies hinges on consideration of consumers' food-safety concerns in their design and implementation, alongside actions to reduce risk in food supply.

Risk perception associated with an emerging agri-food risk in Europe: plant viruses in agriculture

Background

Research into public risk perceptions associated with emerging risks in agriculture and supply chains has focused on technological risks, zoonotic diseases, and food integrity, but infrequently on naturally occurring diseases in plants. Plant virus infections account for global economic losses estimated at $30 billion annually and are responsible for nearly 50% of plant diseases worldwide, threatening global food security. This research aimed to understand public perceptions of emerging risks and benefits associated with plant viruses in agriculture in Belgium, Slovenia, Spain, and the UK.

Methods

Online qualitative semi-structured interviews with 80 European consumers were conducted, including 20 participants in each of Belgium, Slovenia, the UK, and Spain. Microsoft Streams was used to transcribe the interview data, and NVivo was utilized to code the transcripts and analyze the data.

Results

The results indicate that, while study participants were relatively unfamiliar with the plant viruses and their potential impacts, plant viruses evoked perceived risks in a similar way to other emerging risks in the agri-food sector. These included risks to environment and human health, and the economic functioning of the relevant supply chain. Some participants perceived both risks and benefits to be associated with plant viruses. Benefits were perceived to be associated with improved plant resistance to viruses.

Conclusions

The results provide the basis for risk regulation, policy, and communication developments. Risk communication needs to take account of both risk and benefit perceptions, as well as the observation that plant viruses are perceived as an emerging, rather than an established, understood, and controlled risk. Some participants indicated the need for risk–benefit communication strategies to be developed, including information about the impacts of the risks, and associated mitigation strategies. Participants perceived that responsibility for control of plant viruses should be conferred on actors within the supply chain, in particular primary producers, although policy support (for example, financial incentivization) should be provided to improve their motivation to instigate risk mitigation activities.

Understanding Italian Consumers' Perception of Safety in Animal Food Products

The concept of food safety is still underexplored among consumers, especially in relationship with the perception of food technology. Through an online survey (n = 489), this study explored: I, how perceived safety is related to products obtained with different technological treatments and described with different commercial information; II, the role of food technology neophobia (FTN) in consumers' safety perception of animal food products. The technological transformation and commercial information significantly affected the perceived safety in all product categories. Milk and eggs were associated with a high number of perceived hazards (with similar patterns), while honey to the lowest. The certification 'organic' positively affected the safety perception of eggs and honey. With the increase of the distance in product origin (local/regional vs. Extra-European) the perceived safety consistently decreased. FTN affected the perceived safety of milk and eggs, depending on the degree of familiarity with the technologies of production. Highly FT neophobic people are perceived as less safe than low FT neophobic people with few familiar products with a higher technological degree of transformation. Results expand the knowledge in people's attitude towards animal products, particularly considering the technology perception. The outputs may interest policy-makers and food companies, in rethinking the communication strategy concerning food safety.

Effect of social media use on food safety risk perception through risk characteristics: Exploring a moderated mediation model among people with different levels of science literacy

Food safety risk (FSR) is becoming a vital issue for public health, and improving public awareness of FSR through social media is necessary. This study aims to explore specific mechanisms of FSR perception; it first categorizes 19 risk characteristics into two variables, dread and efficacy, and then examines how social media use affects perceived FSR through both variables. Additionally, the study explores the moderating effects of source credibility and science literacy on the mechanisms of FSR perception. Based on a nationwide online survey (N = 2,015) of more than six salient food safety issues in China, the study found that exposure to food safety risk information on social media can help improve perceived FSR based on the proposed “dread–efficacy processing model” (DEPM), where dread stimulates perceived risk, while efficacy suppresses risk perception. Moreover, source credibility intensifies the effect of social media use on efficacy appraisal, whereas science literacy exerts a “double-weakening” influence on dread appraisal. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Modeling of Farmers' Vegetable Safety Production Based on Identification of Key Risk Factors From Beijing, China

Food safety emphasizes risk control in the production process, and has attracted much attention from food regulators and consumers in recent years. The objectives of this study were to conduct early key risk factors identification and risk modeling for vegetable safety production. To achieve these objectives, this article quantitatively identified the key direct and indirect risk factors in vegetable safety production through questionnaire surveys and a multivariate linear model, and modeled the effects of key risk factors affecting vegetable safety production based on the catastrophe progression method. Based on 973 valid farmers' questionnaires from Beijing, China, the results showed that key direct risk factors are production violation, farmland biological control, pesticide and fertilizer use criteria, and agricultural consumable handling; key indirect risk factors included cooperative participation, planting years, prohibited pesticide knowledge, production recording, and product type. Through the empirical analysis, it can be seen that there are regional differences in the production risk of vegetable farmers in Beijing. The production risks of Changping, Huairou, and Shunyi are the most serious; from a city-wide perspective, the risk of farmland biological control is greatest, followed by risk aversion ability. The findings of this research have important implications for safe vegetable production and farmers' production risk control.

Consumers’ Awareness, Behavior and Expectations for Food Packaging Environmental Sustainability: Influence of Socio-Demographic Characteristics

Packaging is a leading factor determining the total environmental effect of food products. This study investigated consumers’ awareness, behavior and expectations in relation to the environmental sustainability aspects of food packaging. Using an online survey, responses from 646 participants were collected. The effect of socio-demographic characteristics on all variable responses was explored by ANOVA models and t-tests. Participants were segmented according to a visual approach based on a principal component analysis applied on the consumers’ behavioral data. Gender, age, and education level affected consumer awareness, behavior and expectations differently. Four groups of consumers were distinguished on the grounds of their behavior in relation to food packaging: (1) More sustainable—packaging-role-oriented; (2) More sustainable—packaging minimizers; (3) Less sustainable; and (4) Medium sustainable. The most sustainable groups were mainly composed of females, while less sustainable consumers were mainly the youngest. The four groups differed in terms of expectations for sustainability-related information that can be communicated through food labels. In conclusion, this work provided new knowledge that is useful to understand the factors that influence consumer behavior and to promote the consumers’ packaging-related sustainability choices through food packaging.

Consumer Cognition Analysis of Food Additives Based on Internet Public Opinion in China

Food additives play an important role in the food supply, and it has been a food safety topic of great concern to the public. There has been no systematic research on Chinese consumers’ concerns, attitudes, feelings, or opinions on supervision and media coverage of food additives in the past decade, which is an area worth exploring. This study was carried out to deeply understand consumers’ cognition of food additives and formulate food safety risk communication strategies of food additives in China. Big data of consumers’ online public opinion of China on food additives from 2011 to 2020 was collected and cleaned up using Haina Network Public Opinion Monitoring System version 2.0 (HNPOMS V2.0), followed by data analysis and visual display with the Ansi Food Safety Risk Communication System version 2.0 (AFSRCS V2.0). The results showed that the types of food additives of concern to the public have changed from 2011 to 2020, but the amount of food additives has always been of concern. The type of incident that the public is most concerned about is the illegal addition or abuse of additives. The public’s confidence in food production enterprises has been insufficient, but the functions of market supervision are becoming clearer and clearer, and their expectations are constantly increasing. Consumers’ cognition level increases with the strengthening of publicity and popular science, but the influence of “self-media” on public cognition is increasing day by day, and there is cognitive deviation, making it easy to mislead the public. Consumers’ cognition of food additives is the basis of risk communication. Combined with the research results, this paper puts forward corresponding suggestions on the market and social supervision measures, network media guidance strategy and risk communication strategy of China, respectively.

Chinese Consumers’ Trust in Food Safety Surveillance Sampling of Commonly Consumed Foods

In China, food has become safer over the past five years, especially commonly consumed foods. Food supervision sampling has played an important role in improving food safety. However, consumer acceptance of the results of food safety supervision have not kept pace. Communicating actual food safety risks to consumers and improving the public trust in food safety supervision sampling inspection has become an important issue. This study focused on food safety surveillance sampling of commonly consumed foods. In total, 4408 adult consumers were surveyed between August and October 2021. Structural equation modeling was performed for data analysis. This study found significant differences along gender lines and across different cities and levels of education with respect to evaluating competence trust and care trust on food supervision sampling inspection. This study identified the public’s competence trust, care trust, and perception of food safety as factors that significantly affect one’s attitude toward supervision sampling inspection. Care trust showed a more pronounced effect on trust enhancement than competence trust. The present study also provides some practical measures for food safety supervisors to improve public trust in the national food inspection. Specifically, the sampling process should be open and transparent.

Bio-Mapping of Microbial Indicators to Establish Statistical Process Control Parameters in a Commercial Beef Processing Facility

The objective was to conduct a bio-mapping of microbial indicators to determine statistical process control (SPC) parameters at a beef processing plant to establish microbiological baselines and process control parameters to support food safety management decisions. EZ-ReachTM swabs were used to collect 100 cm2 area samples at seven different locations throughout the beef processing line at four different regions on the carcass. Each of the eight sampling days evaluated included three samples collected per sampling location/carcass region for a total of 84 samples per day. Enumeration of total aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia coli was performed on each sample. Microbial SPC parameters were estimated for each sampling point. Statistical differences between sampling points for all carcass locations (p < 0.001) followed an overall trend with higher values at pre- and post-evisceration with a continuous decrease until final interventions with a slight increase in counts during the chilling process and a final increase after fabrication. Variability at sampling points is the result of the nature of the process and highlights open opportunities for improvement of the food safety system. Microbial baselines and SPC parameters will help support decision making for continuous process improvement, validation of intervention schemes, and corrective action implementation for food safety management.

Understanding how food safety risk perception influences dietary decision making among women in Phenom Phnom Penh, Cambodia: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

To determine women's perception of the risk of food safety and how it relates to diet, health and decision making as part of formative research for a market-based intervention that aims to improve the safety of animal-source foods sold in informal markets.

DESIGN

Qualitative study including in-depth personal interviews with 24 caregivers were conducted and complemented with a second follow-up PhotoVoice interview, which allowed the women to photograph their meals and perceptions of food safety and nutrition. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis in MAXQDA. Participants were purposively sampled from a larger Safe Food, Fair Food for Cambodia study, conducted from May to August 2018.

SETTING

Urban and periurban neighborhoods of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

PARTICIPANTS

24 female caregivers (mothers and grandmothers) of children under age 5, each interviewed twice.

FINDINGS

A primary food safety concern expressed was that chemicals (pesticides and other agricultural additives) in animal-source foods, fruits and vegetables may impact the health of their families by causing diarrhoea and problems during pregnancy. This fear created a lack of trust in markets, which influenced their food purchasing behaviours and strategies for making the food safer for their families. These mitigation strategies, including food selection and cleaning, vary among the women but are perceived as important to be able to provide their families with what they define as safe meals.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions that wish to decrease rates of foodborne illness and increase animal source food consumption should also address the belief that the food system has been compromised by the addition of pesticides and agricultural additives.

Food packaging during the COVID-19 pandemic: Consumer perceptions

While plastics play an important role in the safety, shelf-life, and affordability of many foods, their mismanagement as waste presents a serious environmental problem. In 2019, governments in Canada and globally were poised to take legislative action to curb the use of single-use plastics, with strong public support. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has since disrupted those initiatives as well as the public sentiment underlying them. The aim of our study is to measure changes in Canadian consumers' attitudes toward single-use plastic food packaging, from Summer 2019 to Summer 2020. The methodology relies on two, representative surveys of the Canadian population, carried out in May 2019 (n = 1,094) and in June 2020 (n = 977). Our measures explored potential impacts on consumer perceptions, driven both by new food safety concerns during the pandemic and also by increased price consciousness during a time of economic recession. We found that 55% of respondents were more concerned about food safety since COVID-19, and that 50% of respondents had become more price conscious when buying groceries. However, we found only a slight decline in motivation to reduce plastics - though with a sharper reduction among males. A stronger shift was seen in attitudes towards policy, where our results show a clear decline in support for tighter regulations or bans on single-use plastics, along with an increase in consumers' willingness to pay for biodegradable alternatives. These findings suggest a more difficult road ahead for legislative approaches, but also potential opportunities for market-based strategies and innovations in the food sector.

What Motivates Consumer Food Safety Perceptions and Beliefs? A Scoping Review in BRICS Countries

This scoping review aimed to map the main evidence in the existing literature regarding consumer perceptions and beliefs regarding food safety in the context of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries. Articles were searched in the Web of Science, Scopus, and SciELO databases. The last search was performed on November 2021. Only the studies conducted within BRICS countries were included. The synthesis aimed to group similarities in consumer beliefs and perceptions of food safety. After screening, 74 eligible articles were included in the study. Of the 74 studies analyzed, 49 (66.2%) were carried out in China, 14 (18.9%) in Brazil, 5 (6.8%) in India,4 (5.4%) in South Africa, and 2 (2.7%) in Russia. Thirty-three motivators of perceptions and beliefs regarding food safety were identified. Food safety motivators were grouped into three categories: (1) sociodemographic characteristics, (2) cognitive aspects, and (3) other. In the "sociodemographic characteristics" category, the motivator with the highest number of corresponding results was education level (results = 22), followed by income (results = 22), both positive drivers for food safety perceptions. The "cognitive aspects" category comprised the majority of the identified motivators. Concern for food safety (results = 32) and risk perception (results = 30) were the motivators with the highest number of results among all categories and motivators. Finally, the main motivator in the "other" category was place of consumption/purchase (results = 8), focusing on consumers underestimating the risk of having a foodborne disease when eating away from home. China and Brazil are leading the way in studies on this topic. Consumers' perceptions are influenced by socioeconomic characteristics (e.g., age, gender, education level, income), cognitive aspects (e.g., knowledge, risk perception, food concerns, previous experience with food safety incidents) and other situational factors (e.g., price, place of purchase, traceability).

The Effect of Experience on Anxiety in Food Safety Incidents—An Empirical Study on Infant Formula Safety Incidents in China

Infant formula incidents have endangered the dietary safety and healthy growth of infants and young children and are triggers of the public’s negative emotions, attracting widespread public attention. The aim of this research was to explore how perceived knowledge gap, risk perception, past actual risk experience, and media risk experience affect anxiety. The research data obtained from 506 respondents were divided into groups with actual risk experience and without actual risk experience. Then, PLS-SEM was used to analyze the data. The results show that risk perception mediated the relationship between perceived knowledge gap and anxiety. Specifically, for the group with actual risk experience, perceived knowledge gap had a significant direct impact on anxiety; however, there was no moderation effect of media experience on the relationship between perceived knowledge gap and risk perception. For the group without actual risk experience, perceived knowledge gap had no direct effect on anxiety, and media experience had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between perceived knowledge gap and risk perception. The results suggest that in infant formula safety incidents, actual risk experience and media risk experience have different influence mechanisms on anxiety. Actual risk experience will directly and intuitively bridge the relationship between perceived knowledge gap and anxiety. Meanwhile, groups without actual risk experience tend to be influenced by rational risk judgment, and this process is moderated by media risk experience.

Knowledge and perception of different plastic bags and packages: A case study in Brazil

The growing demand for plastics, for packaging and consumption, is a current environmental issue. Although there are many scientific developments concerning material science, knowledge about the public's perception is low, which can delay society's efforts to face this challenge. This study aimed to understand if Brazilians who practice different sustainable actions perceive differently biodegradable, recycled, and common plastics and have different purchase intentions for each specific type of packaging. A total of 1080 Brazilian adults were first classified by their day-to-day attitudes regarding sustainability efforts. Then, their purchase intention and perception about different plastics were assessed. Regardless of sustainability practices, people associate common plastic bags with negative attributes and biodegradable plastic bags with positive attributes. This shows that there is a well-established concept about these types of bags, even if there are some misconceptions (e.g. recyclable) or controversies (e.g. non-polluting). On the other hand, results showed that consumers who adopted more sustainable practices were 3.5 times more willing to pay for biodegradable packages, even though no differences were observed in the accepted price for biodegradable bags between consumer's groups. Finally, the purchase intention comparisons for products packaged in recycled and biodegradable plastics showed the consumers were more interested in those biodegradable plastics and the purchase intention was lower for perishable food (e.g. products that can have higher safety risks). The results are important for understanding environmental policy management in Brazil, highlighting the importance to improve the population's knowledge about different types of plastic, leading to more conscious choices.

The Landscape of Risk Perception Research: A Scientometric Analysis

Risk perception is important in organizational and societal governance contexts. This article presents a high-level analysis of risk perception research using Web of Science core collection databases, scientometrics methods and visualization tools. The focus is on trends in outputs, geographical and temporal trends, and patterns in the associated scientific categories. Thematic clusters and temporal dynamics of focus topics are identified using keyword analysis. A co-citation analysis is performed to identify the evolution of research fronts and key documents. The results indicate that research output is growing fast, with most contributions originating from western countries. The domain is highly interdisciplinary, rooted in psychology and social sciences, but branching into domains related to environmental sciences, medicine, and engineering. Significant research themes focus on perceptions related to health, with a focus on cancer, human immunodeficiency virus, and epidemiology, natural hazards and major disasters, traffic accidents, technological and industrial risks, and customer trust. Risk perception research originated from consumer choice decisions, with subsequent research fronts focusing on understanding the risk perception concept, and on developing taxonomies and measurement methods. Applied research fronts focus on environmental hazards, traffic accidents, breast cancer and, more recently, e-commerce transactions and flood risk. Based on the results, various avenues for future research are described.

An unintended consequence of Covid-19: Healthy nutrition

The Covid-19 pandemic involving mass quarantines and stay at home orders in many nations has affected consumer behaviour including food intake. Despite the seriousness of the situation, spending more time at home may have had some unintended consequences for consumers. The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of the current adverse circumstances on nutrition, within the framework of changes in attitude toward healthy eating, health consciousness, fear, and social influence of family, peers, and social media interactions. For this purpose, 732 participants, the majority of whom were female, aged between 26 and 55 years with university degrees, were surveyed online. Data were analyzed using a structural equation modeling approach. Based on results, family influence and social media influence were found to have positive effects on fear of Covid-19 and greater health consciousness. The effect of peer influence was only observed for health consciousness, not fear of Covid-19. Health consciousness and Covid-19 fears positively affected attitude and health consciousness, and attitude was positively related to healthy nutrition, indicating these individuals' beliefs about the healthiness of their current daily diets. Future research and practices may consider the effect of Covid-19 on humans' nutritional attitudes and behaviours based on our study so that health-related issues in the pandemic can be further examined and explained through nutritional consequences by researchers and practitioners in the future.

Is "Wild" a Food Quality Attribute? Heavy Metal Content in Wild and Cultivated Sea Buckthorn and Consumers' Risk Perception

Globally, the consumption of herbal supplements is on an upward trend. As the food supplement industry thrives, so does the need for consumers’ awareness of health risks. This contribution is grounded on two assumptions. Firstly, not always “wild” is a food quality attribute, and secondly, the food chain is judged as a noteworthy route for human exposure to soil contamination. Sea buckthorn (SBT) was selected for investigation due to its versatility. In addition to its wide therapeutic uses, it is present in ecological rehabilitation which may raise concerns regarding its safety for human consumption as a consequence of the accumulation of contaminants in the plant. The study aims to discover if the objective contamination of SBT with toxic residues is congruent with people’s subjective evaluation of SBT consumption risk. A quantitative determination of heavy metals was performed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The metals abundance followed the sequence Fe > Cu > Zn > Mn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd. Quantitative data on consumers’ subjective risk evaluations were collected through an online survey on 408 Romanians. Binary logistic shows that the consumption of SBT is predicted by the perceived effect of SBT consumption on respondents’ health. The study confirms that the objective contamination of wild and cultivated SBT is in line with the perceived contamination risk. It is inferred that a joint effort of marketers, media, physicians, and pharmacists is needed to inform consumers about the risks and benefits of SBT consumption.

Factors affecting customer intention to use online food delivery services before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

With the emerging popularity of online food delivery (OFD) services, this research examined predictors affecting customer intention to use OFD services amid the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Specifically, Study 1 examined the moderating effect of the pandemic on the relationship between six predictors (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, price saving benefit, time saving benefit, food safety risk perception, and trust) and OFD usage intention, and Study 2 extended the model by adding customer perceptions of COVID-19 (perceived severity and vulnerability) during the pandemic. Study 1 showed that all of the predictors except food safety risk perception significantly affected OFD usage intention, but no moderation effect of COVID-19 was found. In Study 2, while perceived severity and vulnerability had no significant impact on OFD usage intention, the altered effects of socio-demographic variables during the COVID-19 pandemic were found. Theoretical and managerial implications are provided.

Recovery of domestic tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic: An experimental comparison of interventions

During the persistent COVID-19 pandemic, tourism destinations try to restore intention to visit by implementing recovery marketing strategies on domestic tourism markets. Within a risk acceptance framework, this research compares the effectiveness of measures a destination can undertake to encourage domestic tourists to visit during or in the immediate aftermath of a lingering public health crisis. We conduct a sophisticated randomised experiment with 666 Australians that tests causal effects on intention to book of 11 manipulated factors, including different communication messages, hygiene measures, discount and cancellation policies and framework conditions. The factors were informed by theory and qualitative interviews conducted with industry experts and potential tourists. The study finds that the presence of international visitors and a surge in COVID-cases decrease domestic tourists’ booking intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Positive effects on booking intentions can be obtained from retentive advertising, discounting and flexible cancellation policies.

A review of Canadian and international food safety systems: Issues and recommendations for the future

In January 2019, the Safe Food for Canadians Act/Safe Food for Canadians regulations (heretofore identified as SFCR) came into force across Canada and brought a more streamlined process to food safety practice in Canada. Food trade and production processes have evolved rapidly in recent decades, as Canada imports and exports food products; therefore it is critically important to remain aware of the latest advances responding to a range of challenges and opportunities in the food safety value chain. Looking through the optics of the recent SFCR framework, this paper places the spotlight on leading domestic and international research and practices to help strengthen food safety policies of the future. By shedding some light on new research, we also draw attention to international developments that are noteworthy, and place those in context as to how new Canadian food safety policy and regulation can be further advanced. The paper will benchmark Canada through a review study of food safety best practices by juxtaposing (i) stated aspirations with, (ii) actual performance in leading Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) jurisdictions.

Why Do Consumers Intend to Purchase Natural Food? Integrating Theory of Planned Behavior, Value-Belief-Norm Theory, and Trust

Natural labels are increasingly present in the market and appreciated by consumers, despite formal regulation still missing. Knowing the psychosocial factors that may predict natural food choice may be useful to understand what drives consumers to choose this category of food. We analyzed the antecedents of consumers' intention to purchase natural food, testing a theoretical model that integrates the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the value-belief-norm (VBN) theory, and consumers' trust in natural food. A sample of Italian participants (N = 1018) filled an online questionnaire assessing intention to buy natural food, TPB and VBN variables, and trust in the natural food supply chain. The model applied yielded results which confirmed the predictiveness of the tested integrated model. Attitude and perceived behavioral control were the strongest antecedents of intention, followed by trust and personal norm. Consumers' intention to buy natural food was also associated with their evaluation of the consequences and possibilities related to the purchase behavior, as well as with their moral evaluation attributable to pro-environmental determinants.

Pricing and Safety Investment Decisions in Food Supply Chains with Government Subsidy

As the demand for safe food has been rapidly increasing these years, more and more stakeholders are dedicated to the safety of the food in the supply chain of this sector. To expand the market share of safe food, governments of some countries also provide subsidies to encourage food processors to invest in better food safety efforts. This paper establishes a three-stage game model between the government and a two-stage food supply chain that consists of one supplier and one processor, where the government subsidizes processors to invest in food safety efforts; furthermore, this paper determines the optimal wholesale price, marginal profit, food safety investment, and government subsidies. This paper analyzes the effects of the government subsidies and risk aversion of the food processor and introduces the mode of order quantity-based payment and demand-based payment; moreover, it also analyzes the impacts of subsidies and different payment methods on demands. The results show that suppliers can increase the market share of products by adopting the demand-based payment, but this method does not always benefit the members of the supply chain. As the processor is more risk-averse, the optimal subsidy is higher, encouraging the processor to invest in more efforts. Finally, the supplier’s profit increases with the processor’s risk aversion indicator.

Restaurants and COVID-19: What are consumers' risk perceptions about restaurant food and its packaging during the pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent U.S. in-restaurant dining restrictions deleteriously affected the restaurant industry. While dining restrictions were adopted to prevent human contact, evidence suggests that consumers may mistakenly perceive that restaurant "food" and its "packaging" are risky sources of COVID-19. To explore consumers' COVID-19 risk perceptions about food itself, restaurant food specifically, and restaurant food packaging, this study collected nationwide U.S. consumer survey data (n = 958) using an online consumer panel. Findings showed that: (1) consumers were less concerned about contracting COVID-19 from food in general than restaurant food and its packaging, with consumer restaurant concern highest for food served in restaurants, and lowest for hot/cooked restaurant food followed by restaurant food from carry-out; and (2) the risk perceptions of consumers varied with financial concern for food, gender, and being in a high-risk category of COVID-19. Implications for researchers, restauranteurs, government, and food safety professionals are discussed.

[Risk perception and information behaviour of opinion leaders in the food sector]

Meinungsführer*innen sind Personen, die in ihrem sozialen Umfeld die Meinungen, Einstellungen oder das Verhalten von anderen Personen beeinflussen können. Sie können insbesondere in sozialen Netzwerken im Internet auch größere Zielgruppen erreichen und stellen deshalb eine zentrale Zielgruppe für die Risikokommunikation dar. Eine wichtige Voraussetzung für eine gelungene Risikokommunikation ist eine genaue Kenntnis der Risikowahrnehmung der entsprechenden Zielgruppe, um diese bei der Entwicklung von Kommunikationsmaßnahmen berücksichtigen zu können. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde deshalb untersucht, inwieweit es einen Zusammenhang zwischen der Risikowahrnehmung von Lebensmittelthemen und themenspezifischer Meinungsführerschaft gibt. Hierzu wurde eine repräsentative Telefonbefragung der Bevölkerung in Deutschland durchgeführt (n = 1001). Demnach weisen Meinungsführer*innen bei einigen Themen eine etwas höhere Risikowahrnehmung gegenüber Lebensmittelrisiken auf als Nicht-Meinungsführer. Sie sind zudem an diesen Themen deutlich stärker interessiert und greifen häufiger über bestimmte Medien auf Informationen zu Lebensmittelthemen zu. Meinungsführer*innen sind zudem häufiger in sozialen Medien aktiv und können so im dortigen Stimmengewirr durch ihr spezielles Wissen und ihre Einschätzungen eine wertvolle Orientierung für ihr soziales und digitales Umfeld bieten.

The Effects of Epistemic Trust and Social Trust on Public Acceptance of Genetically Modified Food: An Empirical Study from China

Most studies exploring the public acceptance of genetically modified food (GMF) are based on social trust and the establishment of a causal model. The underlying premise is that social trust indirectly affects public acceptance of GMF through perceived risks and perceived benefits. The object of social trust is trust in people, organizations, and institutions. Different from the social trust, epistemic trust refers to people's trust in scientific knowledge behind the technology of concern. It has been shown that epistemic trust, like social trust, is also an important factor that affects the public perception of applicable risks and benefits. Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate epistemic trust into the causal model to derive a more complete explanation of public acceptance. However, such work has not been conducted to date. The causal model proposed in this paper integrated epistemic trust and social trust and divided social trust into trust in public organizations and trust in industrial organizations. A representative questionnaire survey (N = 1091) was conducted with Chinese adults. The model was analyzed by the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method. Three major findings were obtained: First, epistemic trust is an important antecedent of perceived risks and perceived benefits and exerts a significant indirect effect on the acceptance of GMF. Secondly, trust in industrial organizations negatively impacts perceived risks, while trust in public organizations positively impacts perceived benefits. Thirdly, contrary to the common opinion, trust in industrial organizations did not exert a significant direct effect on perceived benefits, and trust in public organizations did not demonstrate a significant direct effect on perceived risks. Therefore, trust in industrial organizations and trust in public organizations utilize different influence paths on GMF acceptance. This study enriches the understanding of the influence path of trust with regard to the acceptance of emerging technologies and is of great significance to relevant risk-management practices.

Generational Differences in Perceptions of Food Health/Risk and Attitudes toward Organic Food and Game Meat: The Case of the COVID-19 Crisis in China

In December 2019, a novel laboratory-confirmed coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection, which has caused clusters of severe illnesses, was first reported in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, China. This foodborne illness, which reportedly most likely originated in a seafood market where wild animals are sold illegally, has transmitted among humans through close contact, across the world. The aim of this study is to explore health/risk perceptions of and attitudes toward healthy/risky food in the immediate context of food crisis. More specifically, by using the data collected from 1008 respondents in January 2020, the time when China was hit hard by the "Corona Virus Disease 2019" (COVID-19), this study investigates the overall and different generational respondents' health/risk perceptions of and attitudes toward organic food and game meat. The results reveal that, firstly, based on their food health and risk perceptions of healthy and risky food, the respondents' general attitudes are positive toward organic food but relatively negative toward game meat. Secondly, older generations have a more positive attitude and are more committed to organic food. Younger generations' attitude toward game meat is more negative whereas older generations attach more importance to it because of its nutritional and medicinal values. In addition, this research also indicates that the COVID-19 crisis influences the respondents' perceptions of and attitudes toward organic food and game meat consumption. However, the likelihood of its impact on older generations' future change in diets is smaller, which implies that older generations' food beliefs are more stable.