The Safe Handling Instructions label on raw meat and poultry products, required by the Department of Agriculture since May, 1994, is the first of several recent public health interventions by the Federal government to provide consumers with information on safe food handling at the point of product use. This study examines consumer response to this label four years after it was required in order to better understand how the general public is likely to use other food safety information on packages, characteristics of effective safe handling labels, and types of supporting education campaigns that may increase their effectiveness. We use data from the Food and Drug Administration's 1998 Food Safety Survey (n=2001). We find that two-thirds of meal preparers have seen the label and three-quarters of them could remember something about the contents of the label. Those who have seen the label tend to perceive higher risk of foodborne illness at home, recognize a larger number of foodborne pathogens, perceive higher risk in unsafe handling practices, have safer hand and cutting-board washing practices, and tend to be aware of recent food contamination incidents. Thus, continued consumer food safety education targeted at those who lack food safety knowledge or do not adopt safe practices is needed to maximize the benefit of food safety information on food labels.
Learning Objectives: 1. to report consumer awareness of and response to food safety information on product packages 2. to discuss implications on the need for continued consumer food safety education
Keywords: Food Safety, Risk Communication
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.