Consumer awareness and perception to food safety: A consumer analysis

Relationships among the main food safety concerns and food consumption habits of 600 consumers living in Manisa City center, Turkey were evaluated. Respondents were interviewed face-to-face by a structured questionnaire. Sixty six questions under different groups (demographics of respondents, food safety perceptions, and awareness of food-borne illnesses, contaminants of foods and hazards, sources of food safety information, confidence in food safety authorities, food handling and safety practices at homes) were asked in the interview. Data obtained from the study indicated the need for much more consumer education regarding safe food handling practices in the domestic environment. Food handling practices and food safety are of public concern, and action is required to prevent the food-borne illnesses. It was seen that, TV and radio programmes are important media for sharing the knowledge of food safety with consumers.