Perceptions of food risk management among key stakeholders: Results from a cross-European study

van Kleef, Ellen, Frewer, Lynn J., Chrysochoidis, Georgios, Houghton, Julie, Korzen-Bohr, Sara, Krystallis, Thanassis, Lassen, Jesper, Pfenning, Uwe and Rowe, Gene (2006) Perceptions of food risk management among key stakeholders: Results from a cross-European study. Appetite, 47 (1). pp. 46-63. ISSN 0195-6663

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Abstract

In designing and implementing appropriate foodriskmanagement strategies, it is important to examine how key stakeholders perceive both the practice and effectiveness of foodriskmanagement. The objective of this study is to identify similarities and differences in perceptions of, and attitudes to, foodriskmanagement practices held by consumers and experts with an interest in food safety. Focus groups were conducted in five European countries chosen for their (hypothesised) cultural differences in attitudes towards risk: Denmark, Germany, Greece, Slovenia and the UK. Content analysis was carried out on the resulting texts and (sub) categories were identified within the analysis framework to facilitate the capture of emerging themes. Five key themes were identified as common to the perceptions of both consumers and experts, although these are not represented in the same way by both groups. These key themes are: (1) efforts made by the responsible authorities to manage foodrisks; (2) responsibility for prevention and management of foodrisks; (3) how priorities are established within regulatory systems; (4) scientific progress and its implications for foodriskmanagement; and (5) media attention and food safety incidents. Although some similarities emerged between the groups, differences were also identified. For example, experts appeared to be highly negative about media influences, whereas consumers appeared more indifferent about media influences and motives. These different perspectives need to be addressed in order to reduce the perceptual distance between key stakeholders, and in particular, to enhance consumer confidence in the foodriskmanagement system. Based on the study findings, recommendations for foodriskmanagement policies are outlined.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	food safety,consumer perceptions,expert views,lay-expert differences,food risk management,risk analysis,consumers,trust,denmark,germany,greece,slovenia,united kingdom
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Rehabilitation Sciences (former - to 2014)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Business Strategy (former - to 2019) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Rehabilitation
Depositing User:	Elle Green
Date Deposited:	28 Mar 2012 15:55
Last Modified:	06 Aug 2023 00:21
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/38600
DOI:	10.1016/j.appet.2006.02.002

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