Volume 5, Issue 3 (September 2018)
J. Food Qual. Hazards Control 2018, 5(3): 102-108 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Omari R, Arthur W, Frempong G. Competence of Public Institutions in Food Safety Control: A Consumer Perception Survey in Ghana
. J. Food Qual. Hazards Control 2018; 5 (3) :102-108
URL: http://jfqhc.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-457-en.html
URL: http://jfqhc.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-457-en.html
Science and Technology Policy Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box CT 519 Cantonments, Accra, Ghana , rose.omari@yahoo.com
Abstract: (3905 Views)
Background: Ensuring food safety and minimizing risks require coordinated efforts of various institutions. The objective of this study was to determine how Ghanaian consumers score the competence of public institutions in controlling food safety risks and the effects of this perceived score on their level of concerns about food safety risks.
Methods: Totally, semi-structured questionnaire administered to 444 Ghanaian consumers in 2017. Public perception of the competence of food safety institutions was assessed by asking a set of questions in addressing each food safety issues. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 20.
Results: The highest and lowest mean scores were 2.81±1.198 and 2.41±1.218, respectively for consumer perception of public institutions’ competence in ensuring food safety, in the range of 1-5 where 1 represents very poor and 5 represents excellent. Also, the mean score for the degree of public concern was ranged from 1.46±0.776 to 2.32±1.248 about various food safety hazards and risks on a scale of 1-5, where 1 represents ‘extremely worried’, and 5 represents ‘not at all worried’.
Conclusion: Consumer perception of public institutions’ competence was below average in ensuring food safety people, showing an unsatisfied situation. For certain specific food safety hazards and risks, consumer perception about the competence level of public institutions affected their degree of worry about those risks.
DOI: 10.29252/jfqhc.5.3.102
Methods: Totally, semi-structured questionnaire administered to 444 Ghanaian consumers in 2017. Public perception of the competence of food safety institutions was assessed by asking a set of questions in addressing each food safety issues. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 20.
Results: The highest and lowest mean scores were 2.81±1.198 and 2.41±1.218, respectively for consumer perception of public institutions’ competence in ensuring food safety, in the range of 1-5 where 1 represents very poor and 5 represents excellent. Also, the mean score for the degree of public concern was ranged from 1.46±0.776 to 2.32±1.248 about various food safety hazards and risks on a scale of 1-5, where 1 represents ‘extremely worried’, and 5 represents ‘not at all worried’.
Conclusion: Consumer perception of public institutions’ competence was below average in ensuring food safety people, showing an unsatisfied situation. For certain specific food safety hazards and risks, consumer perception about the competence level of public institutions affected their degree of worry about those risks.
DOI: 10.29252/jfqhc.5.3.102
Type of Study: Original article |
Subject:
Special
Received: 17/11/01 | Accepted: 18/03/27 | Published: 18/09/24
Received: 17/11/01 | Accepted: 18/03/27 | Published: 18/09/24
References
1. Berg L., Kjaernes U., Ganskau E., Minina V., Voltchkova L., Halkier B., Holm L. (2005). Trust in food safety in Russia, Denmark and Norway. European Societies. 7: 103-129. [DOI:10.1080/1461669042000327045]
2. Bruhn C.M., Schutz H.G. (1999). Consumer food safety knowledge and practices. Journal of Food Safety. 19: 73-87. [DOI:10.1111/j.1745-4565.1999.tb00235.x]
3. De Jonge J., Frewer L., Van Trijp C.M.H., Renes J.R., De Wit W., Timmers J. (2004). Monitoring consumer confidence in food safety: an exploratory study. British Food Journal. 106: 837-849. [DOI:10.1108/00070700410561423]
4. De Jonge J., Van Trijp J.C.M., Van der Lans I.A., Renes R.J., Frewer L.J. (2008). How trust in institutions and organizations build general consumer confidence in the safety of food: a decomposition of effects. Appetite. 51: 311-317. [DOI:10.1016/j.appet.2008.03.008]
5. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2005). National food safety systems in Africa -A situation analysis. Paper prepared by FAO Regional Office for Africa, Accra, Ghana. FAO/WHO Regional Conference on Food Safety for Africa Harare, Zimbabwe. URL: www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/010/ a0215e/A0215E24.htm. Accessed 2 February 2018.
6. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2016). Risk communication applied to food safety handbook. Food safety and quality series. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization and Geneva. URL: http://who.int/foodsafety/ Risk Communication- FoodSafety.pdf. Accessed 2 February 2018.
7. Frewer L.J., Howard L., Hedderley D., Shepherd R. (1996). What determines trust in information about food-related risks? Underlying psychological constructs. Risk Analysis. 16: 473-486. [DOI:10.1111/j.1539-6924.1996.tb01094.x]
8. Frewer L.J., Shepherd R., Sparks P. (1994). The interrelationship between perceived knowledge, control and risk associated with a range of food-related hazards targeted at the individual, other people and society. Journal of Food Safety. 14: 19-40. [DOI:10.1111/j.1745-4565.1994.tb00581.x]
9. Jalili M. (2015). A review on aflatoxins reduction in food. Iranian Journal of Health, Safety and Environment. 3: 445-459.
10. Mayer R.C., Davis J.H., Schoorman F.D. (1995). An integrative model of organizational trust. Academy of Management Review. 20: 709-734. [DOI:10.5465/amr.1995.9508080335]
11. Miles S., Brennan M., Kuznesof S., Ness M., Ritson C., Frewer L.J. (2004). Public worry about specific food safety issues. British Food Journal. 106: 9-22. [DOI:10.1108/00070700410515172]
12. Ministry of Health of Ghana. (2013). National food safety policy. Draft– 31/05/2013. Government of the Republic of Ghana. URL: http://www.acfs.go.th/FileSPS/Text%20SPS%20GHA% 201.pdf. Accessed 4 February 2018.
13. Omari R., Frempong G. (2016). Food safety concerns of fast food consumers in urban Ghana. Appetite. 98: 49-54. [DOI:10.1016/j.appet.2015.12.007]
14. Omari R., Ruivenkamp G.T.P., Tetteh E.K. (2017). Consumers' trust in government institutions and their perception and concern about safety and healthiness of fast food. Journal of Trust Research. 7: 170-186. [DOI:10.1080/21515581.2017.1289099]
15. Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA). (2013). PACA Strategy 2013-2022. Partnership for aflatoxin control in Africa, African :union: Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. URL: http://www.aflatoxinpartnership.org/uploads/PACA%20Strategy % 202013-2022 - %20FINAL%20formatted%20for%20 A4. pdf. Accessed 6 February 2018.
16. Poortinga W., Pidgeon N.F. (2003). Exploring the dimensionality of trust in risk regulations. Risk Analysis. 23: 961-972. [DOI:10.1111/1539-6924.00373]
17. Quaye W., Yawson I., Yawson R.M., Williams I.E. (2009). Acceptance of biotechnology and social-cultural implications in Ghana. African Journal of Biotechnology. 8: 1997-2003.
18. Sefa-Dedeh S. (2009). Overview of food safety situation in Africa- Ghana Position. URL: www.safefoods.nl/web/file? uuid=01bcccff-6fdb-482e-8c08-57c7e88078e. Accessed 6 February 2018.
19. Wang M.C., Naidoo N., Ferzacca S., Reddy G., Van Dam R.M. (2014). The role of women in food provision and food choice decision-making in Singapore: a case study. Ecology of Food and Nutrition. 53: 658-677. [DOI:10.1080/03670244.2014.911178]
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
