CONSUMERS (general)

Overview:

Food Safety and Consumer’s Concerns

Consumer Trends and Food Issues

Future Challenges

Why are consumers currently so concerned about food and food safety?

A few good reasons:

Food safety (BSE, Mycotoxins, etc

Increase in food poisoning

Genetic modification

Impacts on health – good and bad

Residues: pesticides, vet. Drugs

Increase in food allergies

Environmental contamination

Food and farming issues

Environmental and sustainability issues

Social justice and fair trade issues – ‘food ethics’

Lack of trust in the food industry

Animal welfare concerns

Origin and traceability

Globalisation – ‘big’ business interest

The ‘real’ cost of food production and who pays if things go wrong

Food Safety Consumer Concerns:

Consumers expect food to be safe

Safe food is a basic consumer right

Food safety cannot be compromised

What level of risk is acceptable?

Who decides what is ‘safe’?

Can we afford ‘safer’ food?

Are we prepared to pay for it?

Food Safety Scare or Reality

Food poisoning incidence

BSE or vCJD

Contaminants e.g. dioxins, residues

Antibiotic resistance

Food allergies

Genetic modification of foods

What about the risk?

Short or long term

What is an acceptable level of risk?

Who makes these decisions?

What if the experts don’t agree?…..

….and/or consumers don’t agree?

Can consumers protect themselves against food safety risks?

What happens when the level of risk is unacceptable?

Consumer trust

In the UK and Europe there is lack of consumer confidence and trust in:

food safety

food producers inc. farmers

regulators and enforcers

policy makers

Government departments

new technologies

WHAT IS SAFE TO EAT?

Key consumer questions:

Is beef safe to eat?

Should I stop eating beef now?

What about other meats – lamb/turkey/

Chicken?

How do I decide what the risks are ?

Who do I trust to inform me?

If I cannot protect myself……….

Who is protecting me?

How are they doing it?

Are the controls effective?

Can I trust the controls and information?

Can I really trust others to ensure that I am protected?

If not, what is my responsibility to protect myself?

Can I understand the risks and am prepared to take them?

FACTS:

Consumers are confused about what is safe to eat

Consumers are not and have not been adequately protected from unsafe food

Consumers now questioning how food is produced

CONSEQUENCES:

Consumers aware that there are many‘UNKNOWNS’ about food safety e.g.

BSE and vCJD

As a consequence PRECAUTIONARY ACTIONS MUST be taken

Public health interests must always be placed above trade interests

More research is needed for all to be better informed

Communications must be clear, open timely – no secrets

TRUST should be established in communicators, regulators, enforcers

Things might change as more is known, which will need further communication and information

From the consumer’s perspective:

Precautionary measures are paramount

Controls measures fully enforced – 100%

Better surveillance and compliance

Education and information essential

Consumer information:

Consumers want to know more about the origin of foods especially meat to make informed choices – country of origin, etc - full information should be available for ALL types of products – not only fresh meat

Current knowledge explained clearly, uncertainties and risks communicated, including public health measures

Learn from the lessons in the UK and BSE

Lessons to be learned from BSE

Vol. 1 Ch. 14: BSE Inquiry, Phillips Report

Everyone agreed that the Government had a problem with credibility

…. A policy of openness is the correct approach

….The Government must resist the temptation of attempting to appear to have all the answers in a situation of uncertainty

….food scares…thrive on a belief that the Government is withholding information

If doubts are openly expressed and publicly explored, the public are capable of responding rationally

…. And are more likely to accept reassurance and advice if, and when, it comes

To establish credibility it is necessary to generate trust – Trust can only be generated by openness

Openness requires recognition of uncertainty, where it exists

The importance of precautionary measures should not be played down on the grounds that the risk is unproved

The public should be trusted to respond rationally to openness

Scientific investigation of risk should be open and transparent

The advice and the reasoning of (advisory) committees should be made public

The Risk Analysis Process

Risk assessment should involve and make explicit the ‘up stream’ non scientific assumptions used in framing any assessment

Policy makers need to take into account broader economic, political, social and ethical considerations

Engage the public/stakeholders in dialogue at all stages in an open transparent manner

Explain the trade-offs, how decisions are made an on what basis – benefits of reducing possible risks and costs of interventions

Policy makers need to make explicit their reasoning and assumptions behind decision-making

Transparency, consultation and communication are key throughout the process – not only at the end of the process

Where policy is changed or, in an emergency – explain the action to ensure compliance and understanding of the new actions required

Consumers health is at risk (from BSE and other food safety problems)

The extent of some risks is not known nor quantifiable

Explain what is know and what is not known and whey these difference exist

Ensure the highest level of precaution is employed, proportionate to the risks and explain this

Trust consumers with all the information to make informed decisions (or not – as they wish)

Ensure that consumers are involved at all stages of the risk analysis process – not merely communicated the policies at the end of the process

Breakdown the barriers between consumers, scientists, regulators, enforces and trade interests

Investments in food safety and quality pay dividends in the long run!

Consumer trends

Safe

Healthy

Nutritious

Natural

Fresh

Wholesome

Functional

Convenient

Fast

Fresher – for longer

Good Value for money

High quality

Authentic

Tasty

With integrity

Unprocessed

Organic

Clean and Green

Local

Exotic

Challenges

To provide consumers with safe foods

Of the quality and quantity they want,

at a price they are willing to pay,

when, and where they want to buy it!

Food producers and retailers need to be able to adapt, to respond to (and predict) consumer trends

To communicate with consumes about how food is produced

To demonstrate and deliver consistent food safety and quality

Spending on food (as part of the family budget is reducing)

More food is eaten away from home

Traditional markets are changing rapidly

Competition is fierce from domestic and foreign producers

Challenges – The Future……………..

Food Safety, trade regulations and agricultural policies must be able to meet these challenges

Gain and maintain consumer confidence – if lost it is not easy to restore

Food Safety and Consumer Interests must come first

- good for consumers and good for business!