10 pages, In this article we examine the adoption of food safety practices among produce growers in the south and discuss implications of food safety regulations in the U.S. Produce growers have adopted standard food safety practices to varying degrees, but there is still an adoption gap, particularly among small scale operations. Market-driven and regulatory food safety enforcement continues to tighten, and this can further hinder market access for small scale producers.
food safety, Consumer concerns about food safety span the issues of pesticide and herbicide residues on agricultural products, additives and preservatives used in food processing, and antibiotics and hormones used in livestock feed. Apprehension about food safety seems to be on the rise. Yet, consumer information has not kept pace. California's Proposition 65, passed in November 1986, requires food labels to note toxic chemicals and is one example of how consumers are seeking to ameliorate this situation. It may be time to permit individual consumers to decide how much toxins they want to consume, i.e., permit the marketing of food products containing a range of toxins so long as the foods are labeled to indicate the level of "health hazard" associated with the toxins the food contains. The "health hazard" displayed on food labels might be calculated like statisticians determine the health hazards associated with automobiles. (original)
Casey, Mark W. (author), Doyle, Willard H. (author), and Brand Group, Inc., Chicago, IL; Brand Group, Inc., Chicago, IL
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
1986
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 93 Document Number: C07075
Notes:
James F. Evans Collection, Chicago, IL : Brand Group, Inc., 1986. Final report, prepared for National Marine Fisheries Service, Cooperative Agreement no. NA84AA-H-SK099. 18 p., A study designed to evaluate consumer fears of irradiation, to assess consumer acceptance of irradiated seafood and the impact on the seafood industry, and to develop strategies to help consumers overcome food irradiation concerns is described in this report.