[compost_tea] Perceived risk of food-related hazards

From: Steve Diver <steved_at_ncat.org>
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 17:51:28 -0000
Here's a paper from the current (May 2004) issue
of International Journal of Food Science & Technology
on perceived risk of food-related hazards.

It says right there in the conclusion:

"consumers were more worried about those food hazards that
were well known to them"

and, consequently,

"less worried about food hazards that were less known".

Taking a leap, you can surmise that a similar situation
exists with "concerns" about pathogens in composts and
compost teas in relation to organic farming. 

Once the flavor of the day was pathogenic concerns with
compost and compost teas ... instead of the benefits and
beneficial organisms in compost and compost teas... organic
farmers have had to back peddle to catch up and allay these
"concerns."

Anyways, here's the paper citation in case you're interested.

Steve Diver


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The perception of risks associated with food-related hazards and
the perceived reliability of sources of information

International Journal of Food Science & Technology
Volume 39 Issue 5 Page 491  - May 2004

Simona Rosati & Anna Saba

National Institute of Research in Food and Nutrition, Rome, Italy

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.2004.00808.x

Summary excerpt

This study aimed to explore, on the one hand, public perception of
risks associated with different food-related hazards and, on the other
hand, perception of reliability of various sources
providinginformation on food-related risks. Some differences were
found when consumers compared six food-related hazards in terms of
perceived personal risk and their knowledge of potential food risks.
The concern about food risks was found to be statistically
significantly dependent on the perception of risk to the
individual....

Content:

The food hazards taken into account were:

Genetically engineered food
Food irradiation
Residues of pesticides
Bacterial contamination
BSE
Food additives

Sources of informartion considered trustworthy:

Government
Environmental organizations
Reporters
European Commission
Consumer associations
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Agriculture
Research institutes
Producer associations


Conclusion excerpts

The study showed that consumers were more worried about those food
hazards that were well known to them and, consequently, less worried
about food hazards that were less known. Moreover, the study indicated
that perceived personal risk and the individual's own knowledge of
potential food risks were two distinct dimensions of food risk
perception.

It was found that the reliability of knowledge held by agencies about
risks associated with food-related hazards to human health and the
trustworthiness of the sources of information were two important
factors of consumer trust. 

A perception of the amount of concern of agencies to protect the
health of citizens from possible risks associated with foodrelated
hazards and the perception of the knowledge held by these agencies
about food risks were the most important determinants of trust.

It means that an increase in trust could result from an equal
increase in these two determinants, as well as a reduction in
trust could result from an equal decrease in them.

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Received on Wed Apr 28 2004 - 16:31:52 EDT

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