Everyday strategies for handling food safety concerns: a qualitative study of distrust, contradictions, and helplessness among Taiwanese women

Abstract

Past research has provided evidence of the important role that trust plays in people’s decisions regarding food consumption. This study examines the reasons for people’s distrust in food production systems and how they conceptualise and handle food-related risks in everyday life in a context in which food scandals have occurred frequently. In-depth interviews were conducted with 39 married Taiwanese women. Our findings indicated that the women believed that collusion commonly occurs between business and government entities and that such collusion frequently leads to food scandals. However, despite their distrust in the food system and suspicion towards the government, the women generally still relied on food labels and certifications when making food purchasing decisions. These ‘in-between’ strategies were formed by their knowledge and experiences of day-to-day living in Taiwan, and while the strategies may seem somewhat self-contradictory, they can be understood as empowering people to protect themselves and their families in circumstances of general distrust and helplessness.