Consumer knowledge, attitudes, and judgments about food safety: A consumer analysis

Food safety is a crucial global public health issue. Causing huge economic and social burden on communities and health systems, food-borne diseases are mostly due to lack of knowledge about food safety and unsafe food handling practices. Consumers’ behavior towards food safety should be considered thoroughly for planning preventive measures to eliminate risks. Knowledge, attitudes, and judgments about food safety among 990 consumers living in Istanbul, the most populous city in Turkey, were investigated. Data were obtained through face-to-face interviews. Forty-two questions including the demographics of consumers, food safety attitudes, awareness of food-borne illnesses, source of information on food safety, and reliance on food safety authorities were asked. Consumers have shown the greatest need for education on food safety. An effective and continuous food safety education is important to improve consumers’ knowledge on food safety. The use of media tools could lead to behavioral changes that will reduce the risk of foodborne illness. •Food safety knowledge among Turkish consumers is insufficient.•Communication of food safety should be expressed in the simplest way.•Government publications and media tools can be used more effectively for food safety education.•Product labels should contain more information on food safety.