Comparison of the Importance and Prioritization of Information Communicated to Consumers by Experts Regarding Food Safety.

Abstract

Key topics related to risk communication and food safety were investigated by three different expert groups. In this study, the Delphi method was used to systematically and iteratively aggregate experts' opinions, and the topics to be communicated to consumers were expressed and prioritized. The opinions of three groups, consisting of 26 members of the expert committee (EC) from the Food Safety Commission of Japan (FSCJ), 29 local government officials (LGOs) from their respective food safety departments, and 25 food safety monitors (FSM) appointed by the FSCJ, were obtained in the period of June through September 2017. "Safety and security concept" was identified and ranked high in all groups. This topic identified "Zero-risk" demand of consumers without understanding risks as the reverse side of safety. The EC group prioritized additional issues, such as "concept of risk" and "safety costs and relevant risk management". The LGO and FSM groups prioritized specific hazard items for food poisoning and preventive measures. With regard to the so-called "health foods", the EC and LGO groups indicated insufficient transmission of scientific evidence from the government to consumers, and the FSM group indicated insufficient understanding by consumers of the food labeling system for health and nutrition. Because consumers do not fully understand all concepts of food safety, governments are encouraged to disseminate the probability of risk and the knowledge of risk reduction directly to the consumers by using simple and easy-to-understand terms.