Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 161 Document Number: D07874
Notes:
Pages 99-102 in M.J. Navarro (ed.), Voices and views: why biotech? ISAAA Brief No. 50. International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, Ithaca, New York. 158 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 161 Document Number: D07917
Notes:
5 pages., Author of "Bare Knuckles" blog shares with members of the AgriculturalRelations Council hs blog about "how the beef industry responded to soddy science and shoddy reporting about cancer risk in red and processed meats.."
de Barcellos, Marcia D. (author), Kügler, Jens O. (author), Grunert, Klaus G. (author), Wezemael, Lynn Van (author), Pérez-Cueto, Federico J.A. (author), Ueland, Øydis (author), and Verbeke, Wim (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2010-10
Published:
Europe: Elsevier
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D07965
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D08126
Notes:
Research paper presented in the Agricultural Communications Section, Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS) in San Antonio,Texas, February 7-8, 2016. 30 pages.
Krause, Amber (author), Meyers, Courtney (author), Irlbeck, Erica (author), and Chambers, Todd (author)
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
2016-02
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D08142
Notes:
Research paper presented in the Agricultural Communications Section, Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS), in San Antonio, Texas, February 7-8, 2016. 26 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 8 Document Number: D10313
Notes:
2 pages., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign., Researchers report consumer research indicating that the "future of U. S. citrus may hinge on consumer acceptance of genetically modified food."
9 pages., Via online journal., As a consequence of recent food safety incidents, consumer trust in European food safety management has diminished. A risk governance framework that formally institutes stakeholder (including consumer) consultation and dialogue through a transparent and accountable process has been proposed, with due emphasis on risk communication. This paper delivers actionable policy recommendations based on consumer preferences for different approaches to food risk management. These results suggest that risk communication should be informed by knowledge of consumer risk perceptions and information needs, including individual differences in consumer preferences and requirements, and differences in these relating to socio-historical context associated with regulation. In addition, information about what is being done to identify, prevent and manage food risks needs to be communicated to consumers, together with consistent messages regarding preventative programs, enforcement systems, and scientific uncertainty and variability associated with risk assessments. Cross-cultural differences in consumer perception and information preferences suggest a national or regional strategy for food risk communication may be more effective than one applied at a pan-European level.
11 pages., via online journal., The World Health Organization estimates that up to 30% of individuals in developed countries become ill from food or water each year. Up to 70% of these illnesses are estimated to be linked to food prepared at foodservice establishments. Consumer confidence in the safety of food prepared in restaurants is fragile, varying significantly from year to year, with many consumers attributing foodborne illness to foodservice. One of the key drivers of restaurant choice is consumer perception of the hygiene of a restaurant. Restaurant hygiene information is something consumers desire, and when available, may use to make dining decisions.
USA: Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, New York City, New York
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 30 Document Number: D10572
Notes:
5 pages., via website, FAIR., Author revisits an earlier concern about the performance of a newspaper food columnist who recently admitted taking money from agribusiness interest groups that she covers.
7 pages., via online journal., Pesticide use and pesticide residues in foods have been the subject of controversial public discussions and media coverage in Germany. Against this background, a better understanding of public risk perceptions is needed to promote efficient public health communication. To this end, this study captures the German public's perception of pesticide residues in foods. A representative sample of the population aged 14 years and older (n = 1,004) was surveyed via computer-assisted telephone interviewing on their attitudes and knowledge with regard to pesticide residues. Based on questions regarding their typical consumer behavior, respondents were classified into conventional and organic consumers to identify differences as well as similarities between these two consumer types. As assessed with an open-ended question, both organic and conventional consumers viewed pesticides, chemicals, and toxins as the greatest threats to food quality and safety. Evaluating the risks and benefits of pesticide use, more than two-thirds of organic consumers (70%) rated the risks as greater than the benefits, compared with just over one-half of conventional consumers (53%). Concern about the detection of pesticide residues in the food chain and bodily fluids was significantly higher among organic compared with conventional consumers. Only a minority of respondents was aware that legal limits for pesticide residues (referred to as maximum residue levels) exist, with 69% of organic and 61% of conventional consumers believing that the presence of pesticide residues in foods is generally not permitted. A lack of awareness of maximum residue levels was associated with heightened levels of concern about pesticide residues. Finally, general exposure to media reporting on pesticide residues was associated with more frequent knowledge of legal limits for pesticide residues, whereas actively seeking information on pesticide residues was not. The possible mechanisms underlying these findings are discussed.
16 pages., via online journal., Fraudulent activities in the international honey market affect 10% of food, and cost the global food market $50 billion per annum. Although many developed countries have created regulations to combat food fraud, illegally imported honey, especially originating from China, still enters through transshipments and relabelling to mask its true origin. This honey laundering poses a health risk to consumers, as Chinese honey potentially contains illegal and unsafe antibiotics and high levels of herbicides and pesticides. We analyse whether information about the negative health impacts of laundered honey increases the proportion of consumers willing to pay a premium for local fraud‐free honey. Using a laboratory experiment, we find when consumers are given honey laundering information, their willingness to pay a premium for local fraud‐free honey increases by as much as 27 percentage points. Our findings suggest that by conveying honey laundering information and guaranteeing their honey is fraud‐free, producers can potentially increase revenues and reduce the prevalence of food fraud. Our results further show that consumers' preference for various honey characteristics and age also influence the probability of paying a premium for local honey.
16 pages., via online journal., raceability system has received wide attention in solving food safety issues, via which food information could be tracked back to producer/farmers. Consumers need to obtain this information from producers or social networks, trust in the information, and consequently assess perceived risks, especially when food scandals are exposed to the media. In this study, we introduce the social embeddedness theory to understand how consumers' social activities affect their risk perceptions on traceable food. Specifically, we investigate how risk perceptions are predicted by the interpersonal relationships, organizational level and social-level relationships. Results show that the interpersonal relationships were associated with lower levels of risk perceptions, while organizational and social relationships impacted consumer's risk perceptions at middle and higher levels, respectively. Results also show that the “ripple effect” extended to effect of risk events with negative information, however, did not exist for the group exposed to positive information. Potential food safety implications have been proposed to identify for effective risk mitigation under media coverages.
Examines the role of trust in shaping public knowledge about, risk perception of, and protective behaviours resulting from this product tampering incident in Xi'an, China.
3 pages., via online journal, This study is motivated by the importance of communication with societal stakeholders when food is involved. This case adopts an internal view of Monsanto's challenge of engaging with consumers and the broader public when discussing biotechnologies and specifically, genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Multiple interviews were conducted at Monsanto's world headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, to understand the challenges within the organization in terms of their public persona and why and how they want to change it.
9 pages., via online journal., European consumers are faced with a myriad of food related risk and benefit information and it is regularly left up to the consumer to interpret these, often conflicting, pieces of information as a coherent message. This conflict is especially apparent in times of food crises and can have major public health implications. Scientific results and risk assessments cannot always be easily communicated into simple guidelines and advice that non-scientists like the public or the media can easily understand especially when there is conflicting, uncertain or complex information about a particular food or aspects thereof. The need for improved strategies and tools for communication about food risks and benefits is therefore paramount. The FoodRisC project ("Food Risk Communication - Perceptions and communication of food risks/benefits across Europe: development of effective communication strategies") aims to address this issue. The FoodRisC project will examine consumer perceptions and investigate how people acquire and use information in food domains in order to develop targeted strategies for food communication across Europe.
Gale, Wayne (author / Chair, American Seed Trade Association)
Format:
Commentary
Publication Date:
2019-06-18
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 114 Document Number: D11041
Notes:
The June 7, 2019 commentary by Barber in the New York Times was retrieved online at: https://seedfreedom.info/opinion-save-our-food-free-the-seed. It is filed with this document., Online via seedworld.com. 3 pages., Response to an opinion piece in the New York Times by celebrity chef Dan Barber. Barber reported on visiting a 24,000-acre farm in North Dakota and observing the large scale of operations. He concluded: "We should be alarmed by the current architects." In this commentary author Gale offered a differing view of the changes in plant breeding and the seed industry over the past 100-plus years - and what they mean for the future.
Available online at www.centmapress.org, Results indicated that both corporate firms involved in a food fraud case lacked an immediate mandate to address the legitimate stakeholders' claim. "This study adds the action perspective to stakeholder salience theory, providing practical guidelines for marketers in the food sector who face wicked contexts, attempting to achieve transparency and common goals along with their stakeholders."
International: International Food Information Council Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 121 Document Number: D11100
Notes:
84 pages., First edition. Via online from IFIC website., This guide shows effective planning and execution of food safety risk communication thr4ugh a practical, hands-on approach for communicators.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 134 Document Number: D11401
Notes:
30 pages., Online via website., "Despite the growing use of genetically modified crops over the past 20 years, most Americans say they know only a little about GM foods. And many people appear to hold 'soft' views about the health effects of GM foods, saying they are not sure about whether such foods are better or worse for one's health. ... a majority of Americans perceive disagreement in the scientific community over whether or not GM foods are safe to eat. And, only a minority of Americans perceive scientists as having a strong understanding of the health risks and benefits of GM foods."
8 pages., Online via UI electronic subscription, Through a questionnaire administered to university students taking food-related courses, researchers found that message framing has an influence on their purchasing intentions related to a food hazard issue. Results further suggested that the effect of framing was related to the respondent's prior knowledge about the issue.
10 pages., Online via UI electronic subscription., Researchers surveyed 423 students enrolled in agriculture, business, and communication design courses at two universities, as well as Facebook users. Responses involving identified food recalls were analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis. Findings indicated that recall concern, propensity to reduce consumption beyond the recall parameters, and media reliance held strong, direct effects on broad consumption changes.
Online via UI electronic subscription, Researchers used weekly meat production and sales data to assess how media depictions of LFTB affected consumer demand during and after the scare in 2012.
9 pages., Online via UI electronic subscription, Researchers reported on their analysis of a case of scandal concerning "set-style yogurt and jelly event" reporting by a micro-blog (i.e., we media) from "opinion leaders." Findings suggested that we media greatly increased dissemination of the voices of "opinion leaders" and triggered large-scale communication of food safety messaging to the public. "We media could be an effective tool to improve the food-safety status of the market."
22 pages., Online via UI electronic subscription, Researchers combined recent national survey data and media reports to quantitatively examine the effects of food scandals and media exposure on food safety risk. Findings suggesed hat media reported food scandals are not significantly related to public concern about food safety risk, suggesting that food risk perceptions may be nationwide rather than region specific. Findings also suggested that more educated citizens with more media exposure were more concerned about food safety risk.
12 pages., Online via UI electronic subscription, Analysis of five cases of peak social media activity in the Dutch livestock sector. Findings indicated that social media hypes revolved around activism, scandals, and conflicts - each with characteristic patterns of activity, framing, interaction and media interplay. "Our results show the need to adopt a proactive and interactive approach that transcends the view of social media as a mere communication channel to respond in crisis situations."
9 pages., Online via UI electronic subscription, Researchers analyzed the effectiveness of the European Union Pledge, a self-regulation initiative of leading food companies at the European level, in restricting television advertising of food and drink products high in fat, sugar or salt to children. Results indicated that effectiveness was limited by the focus on children's program and the relatively lenient nutritional criteria agreed to by signatory companies.
19 pages., via online journal., The agricultural sector continues to be challenged by the public with respect to how it deals with a wide range of issues. These issues may be viewed as component parts of an implied “new contract” between society and agriculture. The “old contract” with society obligated agriculture to provide safe, wholesome, abundant food at affordable prices. The new contract includes several additional components including a heightened focus on food safety and quality, consideration of environmental impacts of agricultural production, and increased consideration for the well-being of animals. If production agriculture effectively deals with these new components, society will likely continue supporting the use of public sector resources for agricultural research, education, and commodity programs. Recent surveys indicate the agricultural sector faces a formidable challenge in dealing with issues involving the risks and benefits of agricultural production practices. This is due to a decline in consumer confidence in the safety of the food supply, the relative level of scientific literacy, and a growing mistrust of new technologies within some demographic groups. Surveys indicate scientists and extension professionals are trusted by the public and thus can play a key role in public education.
Administrators and peers must actively support and reward scientists and extension professionals for their contributions to public education. Educating the public requires an understanding that the public, in general, does not view risk from a quantitative standpoint but rather from a qualitative one. Effective public education activities should be based upon proven public policy education methodology. This approach encourages the educators to refrain from assuming an advocacy position and allows maximum opportunity for the public to be in control of the decision-making process as required in the democratic system.
20 pages., Online via UI e-subscription, This article centered on the representation of food additives as a matter of key importance to the public's conceptualization of them. Findings from a systematic qualitative study of the magazines of two Belgian consumer organizations revealed that additives were seen as providing no benefits to consumers, for they could be used to reduce the quality of both the ingredients and the production process. They were perceived as a means of deceiving the public, with portrayal of consumers as powerless in the struggle for control over the types and amounts of additives they ingested. In turn, the limitations were seen as a failure of government and scientific institutions to provide the necessary protection.
Shan, Liran Christine (author), Panagiotopoulos, Panagiotis (author), Regan, Aine (author), De Brun, Aoife (author), Barnett, Julie (author), Wall, Patrick (author), and McConnon, Aine (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2015
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 151 Document Number: D11599
5 pages., Online via UI e-subscription, Researchers examined the use and impact of social media on two-way communication between consumers and public organizations in the food safety and nutrition area. Findings indicated that social media penetrated and brought new opportunities to interactions between food organizations and the public.
5 pages., Author concludes that "genetic information is easy to portray as a new and scary technology, but fearmongering is largely based on misinformation, a misunderstanding of evolution and our place in the natural world, and vague fears of contamination. In reality, GMO safety testing is extensive and has not uncovered any safety concerns for current GMOs. There are other issues with GMOs that are worth discussing, but fears of adverse health effects are not legitimate." Cites a review of research ty the European Commission in 2010: "The main conclusion to be drawn from the efforts of more than 130 research projects, covering a period of more than 25 years of research and involving more than 500 independent research groups, is that biotechnology, and in particular GMOs, are not per se more risky than e.g. conventional plant breeding technologies."
Fairchild, Dean G. (author) and Dahlgran, Roger A. (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
1996
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 165 Document Number: D11669
Notes:
11 pages., Pages 204-216 in Proceedings of the NCR-134 Conference on Applied Commodity Price Analysis, Forecasting, and Market Risk Management, Chicago, Illinois > 1981-1999 Conference Archive., Researchers estimated net reach and average frequency of exposure to publicity about a case of chicken contamination in the U.S. "It was found that for each unit of increase in weekly publicity frequency, prices were depressed by 1.2 percent, leading to a $760 million retail loss to the chicken industry. This amounts to less than one-quarter of one percent of revenue over the 10 years studied."
Kennedy, P. Lynn (author) and Garcia-Fuentes, Pablo A. (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2017
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 166 Document Number: D11671
Notes:
13 pages., Paper presented at the Southern Agricultural Economics Association annual meeting, Mobile, Alabama, February 4-7, 2017., Researchers analyzed the market of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in the United States and its linkages with the soft drink market. Results showed that soft drinks are the main driver behind the growing demand for HFCS. Also, negative news on HFCS had a negative effect on the growth of demand for soft drinks. However, per capita advertising on soft drinks had a positive effect on the growth of demand for soft drinks and more than offset the effect of negative news.
Online from publisher website. 3 pages., "After a punishing year of food-safety concerns, Chipotle dropped one of its CEOs and prepared to improve its in-store experience as its financial woes bled into 2017." Public health issues facing burrito chain Chipotle Mexican Grill following outbreaks of E. coli.
Online from publications. 3 pages., Report of thoughts about dealing with foodservice staffing and labor challenges from the chief operating officer of DNO Produce, Columbus, Ohio.
28 pages, This study investigates how the emotional tone of food safety risk communication messages predicts message virality on social media. Through a professional Internet content tracking service, we gathered news articles written about the 2018 romaine lettuce recall published online between October 30th and November 29th, 2018. We retrieved the number of times each article was shared on Twitter and Pinterest, and the number of engagements (shares, likes, and comments) for each article on Facebook and Reddit. We randomly selected 10% of the articles (n = 377) and characterized the emotional tone of each article using machine learning, including emotional characteristics such as discrete emotions, emotional valence, arousal, and dominance. Conveying negative valence, low arousal, and high dominance, as well as anger and sadness emotions were associated with greater virality of articles on social media. Implications of these findings for risk communication in the age of social media are discussed.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 155 Document Number: C25110
Notes:
Archived December 15, 2006, 2 pages., Involves a message from the National Organization for African Americans in Housing, a non-profit advocate for low-income citizens.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 155 Document Number: C25150
Notes:
Retrieved December 31, 2006, Pages 219-227 in proceedings of the International Conference on Culinary Arts and Sciences IV, Orebro University, Sweden, April 17-20, 2001
Hallman, William K. (author), Cuite, Cara L. (author), Condry, Sarah C. (author), Nucci, Mary L. (author), and Food Policy Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
2007-02-05
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 157 Document Number: C25528
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Arlington, Virginia.
Format:
Article
Publication Date:
2000
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 157 Document Number: C25554
Notes:
Retrieved December 28, 2006, In News Media and the Law home page, Vol. 24, No. 2, Page 16., Involves suit about whether Oprah Winfrey and her guest Howard Lyman did or did not knowingly and falsely depict American beef as unsafe.
International: Farm Foundation, Oak Brook, Illinois.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 157 Document Number: C25577
Notes:
153 pages., Comprehensive analysis that involved more than 150 industry, government and academic leaders involved in animal agriculture in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
