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Using an online experiment with a nationally representative sample of 1200 adult American consumers, two “common or usual names,” “Cell‐Based Seafood” and “Cell‐Cultured Seafood,” were assessed using five criteria. Displayed on packages of frozen Atlantic Salmon, both “Cell‐Based” (60.1%) and “Cell‐Cultured” (58.9%) enabled participants to differentiate the novel products from “Farm‐Raised” and “Wild‐Caught” fish and 74% also recognized that those allergic to fish should not consume the product. Thus, both names met key regulatory criteria. Both names were seen as appropriate terms for describing the process for creating the product, meeting the criteria for transparency. There were no significant differences in the perceived safety, naturalness, taste, or nutritiousness of the products bearing the two names. However, participants’ overall impressions associated with “Cell‐Based” were rated as more positive than those associated with “Cell‐Cultured” (P

Both hurricanes and nor’easters can be destructive and deadly. The current study investigates whether, when all other features of a storm warning message are held constant, people perceive the risks posed by nor’easters and hurricanes differently and whether these differences affect their attitudes and decisions about taking protective action. We conducted an online experiment involving 1,700 Americans residing in northeastern coastal ZIP codes to test the effects of storm type (hurricane vs nor’easter). Participants were told that their area was under an evacuation order due to either a predicted hurricane or nor’easter. Reported message comprehension and perceived relevance were similar across storm type; however, storm type had small but significant effects on other dependent measures. Those in the hurricane condition were more likely to believe the storm would be severe (p = 0.007). They were also more likely to say that it is important to evacuate, that they would evacuate their homes, and that they would recommend to their neighbors that they evacuate (p < 0.001). Additional analysis demonstrated that the effect of storm type on evacuation likelihood is mediated, at least in part, by perceived severity. These findings provide evidence that people perceive hurricanes as more severe and more likely to require taking protective action than nor’easters, even when other attributes of the storms remain the same. Forecasters, broadcast meteorologists, and emergency management professionals should consider these small but important differences in perceptions when communicating about these types of storms.

There have been seven qualified health claims (QHCs) in the marketplace about the relationship between the consumption of green tea and the reduced risk of breast and/or prostate cancers that were written by three stakeholders (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Fleminger, Inc. (tea company), and the Federal Court). This paper evaluates assertions about the effects of these claims on consumers, which were contested in a federal lawsuit. Using a 2 × 7 experimental design, 1,335 Americans 55 years and older were randomized to view one QHC about green tea and cancer, or an identical QHC about a novel diet-disease relationship; yukichi fruit juice and gastrocoridalis. The results show that differing stakeholder descriptions of the same evidence significantly affected consumer perceptions. For example, QHCs written by Fleminger, Inc. were rated as providing greater evidence for the green tea-cancer claim. An FDA summary statement implied mandatory (vs. voluntary) labelling and greater effectiveness, and qualitative descriptions suggested that greater evidence existed for the claims (vs. quantitative descriptions). Greater evidence was also inferred for familiar claims (green tea and cancer).

An important consideration in the commercialization of cell‐based meat, poultry, and seafood is what common or usual name to use on package labels to meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. However, naming these products has been the subject of considerable debate. This study used a 3 × 10 between‐subjects online experiment involving a quota sample of 3,186 U.S. adult panel participants to test common or usual names using images of realistic packages of three types of seafood that a consumer might encounter in a supermarket. The terms tested were, “cell‐based seafood,” “cell‐cultured seafood,” “cultivated seafood,” and “cultured seafood” and the phrases, “produced using cellular aquaculture,” “cultivated from the cells of ____,” and “grown directly from the cells of ____,” where the blanks are filled by the name of the seafood product. Five criteria were used for evaluation, including each term's ability to: enable consumers to distinguish cell‐based seafood from wild and farmed fish, to signal potential allergenicity, be seen by consumers as an appropriate term to identify the product, not disparage either cell‐based or conventional products, and not evoke thoughts, images, or emotions that are inconsistent with the idea that the products are safe, healthy, and nutritious. The results showed that “cell‐based seafood” outperforms the other names tested. It enables consumers to recognize that the products are neither wild caught nor farm raised, signals potential allergenicity, is seen as an appropriate name for describing the technology/process, and it performs well with respect to measures of consumer acceptance, particularly in comparison to conventional products. Practical Application Creating consensus around a single common or usual name for cell‐based meat, poultry, and seafood products is clearly important both for regulatory reasons and for shaping public perceptions and understanding of the products that are labeled with it. Our findings suggest that “cell‐based” is the best common or usual name for seafood products that both meets FDA regulatory requirements and performs well with respect to potential consumer acceptance. Consistent use of this term by industry, advocates, and regulators would help orient consumers to what is likely to be a transformational food technology.

Poor air quality affects the health and wellbeing of large populations around the globe. Although source controls are the most effective approaches for improving air quality and reducing health risks, individuals can also take actions to reduce their personal exposure by staying indoors, reducing physical activity, altering modes of transportation, filtering indoor air, and using respirators and other types of face masks. A synthesis of available evidence on the efficacy, effectiveness, and potential adverse effects or unintended consequences of personal interventions for air pollution is needed by clinicians to assist patients and the public in making informed decisions about use of these interventions. To address this need, the American Thoracic Society convened a workshop in May of 2018 to bring together a multidisciplinary group of international experts to review the current state of knowledge about personal interventions for air pollution and important considerations when helping patients and the general public to make decisions about how best to protect themselves. From these discussions, recommendations were made regarding when, where, how, and for whom to consider personal interventions. In addition to the efficacy and safety of the various interventions, the committee considered evidence regarding the identification of patients at greatest risk, the reliability of air quality indices, the communication challenges, and the ethical and equity considerations that arise when discussing personal interventions to reduce exposure and risk from outdoor air pollution.

Public opinion regarding genetic control of infectious disease vectors such as mosquitoes varies in part because the underlying risk and benefit perceptions about novel gene editing and genetic eng...

Background Facts Up Front (FUF) nutrition labels are used by food manufacturers to highlight selected nutrition information on the front of the package. Differences in serving sizes between similar products may go unnoticed by consumers, leading to misinterpretations of the nutritional information displayed in the FUF. Objective To examine consumer attention to FUF labels on 2 similar cereal products with differing serving sizes. Study Design, Setting, Participants Utilizing a nationally representative sample, 1,022 adults participated in an online survey. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Participants were shown images of 2 cereals with FUF labels that differed in serving size and nutrient amounts. Attention to the FUF and serving sizes was assessed, and participants were asked comparative questions about the nutrient content of the cereals. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regressions were performed. Results While 64.5% of participants reported looking at the FUF, only 21.3% were correct when asked which of the 2 cereals had the bigger serving size. The majority of participants incorrectly indicated that there were no differences between the cereals with respect to the nutrients presented, though these inaccuracies were less likely among participants who looked at the FUF. What seemed to go unnoticed by most participants were the marked nutritional differences between the products if the servings are equalized to 1 cup. In fact, when the serving sizes are equalized, the cereal with the larger listed serving size (and with seemingly higher amounts of less healthful nutrients such as sugar and sodium) actually had lower amounts of these nutrients in comparison to the cereal with the smaller listed serving size. Conclusion Attention to differences in the FUF and serving sizes was lacking. Participant inattention to the inequalities in serving sizes between cereals could mean they perceive them as being equal. Significant nutritional differences between products may be obscured by the failure of consumers to take different serving sizes into consideration.

OBJECTIVE Characterize capabilities of nutrition applications (apps) for weight management and associations between features, ratings, and app installations. DESIGN Calorie tracking apps with weight management as a primary outcome were selected from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store using keywords "diet" and "weight loss." METHODS Reviewers assessed free and upgraded versions of nutrition apps (n = 15) for features within 4 categories: (1) dietary intake, (2) anthropometrics, (3) physical activity, and (4) behavior change strategies. OUTCOME MEASURES Presence of specific app features, app ratings, and app installations. ANALYSIS Descriptive statistics of free and paid app versions. Spearman rank-order correlations were used to determine associations between feature inclusion, app ratings, and installations. RESULTS The apps had the greatest number of features in the dietary intake category. Additional dietary intake features were those most likely obtained through a subscription purchase. Behavior change content was absent from most apps. The macronutrient adjustment feature was strongly associated with average app ratings (rs = 0.74; P < 0.002) and with subscription costs (rs = 0.60; P < 0.019). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS This study found most nutrition apps possess an abundance of features dedicated to dietary intake, anthropometric, and physical activity tracking while also being notably devoid of behavior change content features.

Encouraging greater consumption of vegetarian foods could be a strategy to improve plant-based food intake among non-vegetarians. Prior research on vegetarianism has focused mostly on people's motivations to be a vegetarian. However, the factors that motivate non-vegetarians to consume vegetarian meals remain largely unknown. The current research tested associations between attitudes, self-identity, and vegetarian meal consumption among 746 U.S. college students and 484 Chinese college students. Two types of attitudes were assessed: attitudes towards vegetarian food (ATF), which represents the personal benefits (including healthiness, tastiness, and enjoyableness) and attitudes towards people who are vegetarians (ATP), which represents the social benefits (perceived as being environmentally friendly, nice, and good-looking). Results showed that U.S. college students were more likely to be either vegetarians or non-vegetarians, while more Chinese college students tended to report being semi-vegetarians. In both samples, ATF and ATP were positively associated with self-identity and vegetarian meal consumption. Moderation analyses suggested that associations between attitudes and consumption were significant only among people who do not hold a definite self-identity as a vegetarian. In addition, ATP was significantly associated with vegetarian meal consumption among U.S. non- and semi-vegetarians alike, but among Chinese non-vegetarians only. These findings suggest that self-identity and cross-cultural differences are important to consider in promoting consumption of vegetarian meals through improving the public's attitudes towards vegetarian food and vegetarians.

BackgroundFollowing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear disasters, medically unexplained symptoms have been observed among unexposed persons.ObjectivesThis study examined belief in exposure in relation to postdisaster symptoms in a volunteer sample of 137 congressional workers after the 2001 anthrax attacks on Capitol Hill.MethodsPostdisaster symptoms, belief in exposure, and actual exposure status were obtained through structured diagnostic interviews and self-reported presence in offices officially designated as exposed through environmental sampling. Multivariate models were tested for associations of number of postdisaster symptoms with exposure and belief in exposure, controlling for sex and use of antibiotics.ResultsThe sample was divided into 3 main subgroups: exposed, 41%; unexposed but believed they were exposed, 17%; and unexposed and did not believe that they were exposed, 42%. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the volunteers reported experiencing symptoms after the anthrax attacks. Belief in anthrax exposure was significantly associated with the number of ear/nose/throat, musculoskeletal, and all physical symptoms. No significant associations were found between anthrax exposure and the number of postdisaster symptoms.ConclusionsGiven the high incidence of these symptoms, these data suggest that even in the absence of physical injury or illness, there may be surges in health care utilization. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:555-560)

This article uses data from an online survey-based experiment to investigate how risk communications and individual differences influence people's responses to approaching hurricane risks. Survey data were collected from 1716 residents of coastal areas of the USA affected by Hurricane Sandy. Respondents were randomly assigned to receive a combination of textual messages about a hypothetical approaching hurricane, including hazard-based, impact-based, and fear-based messages. The analysis examines how the experimental messages influenced respondents’ evacuation intentions, risk perceptions, efficacy beliefs, and perceptions of the information and its source. The influence of non-message factors, including respondents’ actual and perceived geographical exposure to hurricane-related risks, evacuation planning, and hurricane-related experiences, is also investigated. The results indicate that the high-impact and fear messages increased evacuation intentions, risk perceptions, and response efficacy, but the effects were small. The hazard message manipulations did not significantly influence most of the dependent variables examined; in particular, neither of the two storm surge messages tested increased evacuation intentions or risk perceptions relative to the wind-only or flood message. There were also no significant differences in message effects among respondents who lived or thought they lived in areas at higher risk. Further, several individual difference variables examined influenced evacuation intentions more than the message variations. Overall, experience evacuating for Sandy was the strongest predictor of evacuation intentions. These results indicate the importance of designing and evaluating hazard risk communications in the context of the other messages people are receiving and the individual differences that influence protective decision making.

Scholars are divided over whether communicating to the public the existence of scientific consensus on an issue influences public acceptance of the conclusions represented by that consensus. Here, ...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the demographic and psychographic characteristics of older green tea consumers in the USA. By understanding this segment’s background, perceptions, and behaviors, health and marketing professionals can tailor messages to reach clients and consumers. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was completed in January 2014 with 1,335 older adult consumers (=55 years old). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binomial logistic regression. Findings More than half (n=682, 51.2 percent) of respondents drank green tea. Most green tea consumers in this sample are college-educated and employed female home owners. The odds for green tea consumption are greater if a respondent is in good health, was informed about diet and health, or made a health-related dietary change in the past year. There are greater odds of consumption if the respondent is familiar with the relationship between drinking green tea and the reduced risk of cancer however, the importance of health statements on product labels are not predictive of consumption. Research limitations/implications This study was conducted in the USA and with older adults. Future research should explore characteristics of younger consumers, i.e. 18-54 years old. Practical implications Health educators, regulators, and marketing professionals may use this profile to tailor messages that speak to consumers and client’s values and motivations. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first profile of older adult green tea consumers in the USA.

Background When harvested or raised within sustainable systems, products of domestic fisheries and aquaculture offer healthy, affordable seafood choices with minimal environmental impact that can help Americans meet dietary guidelines for seafood intake. However, some consumers hesitate to purchase seafood products, associating them with negative environmental impact, and adherence to intake recommendations remains low. Consistent sustainability labeling on seafood products could better signal environmental responsibility and encourage consumers toward increased intake. Objective To characterize label attributes indicative of sustainability on seafood packages. Study Design, Setting, Participants A content analysis of seafood package labels was conducted using the Label Insight product database. Characterized attributes included 320 terms and certifications documented on packages. From over 400,000 food products, 2,200 seafood packages were selected for inclusion based on type: salmon (n = 730), shrimp (n = 1,387), and oysters (n = 83). Mixed dishes were excluded. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Four trained coders characterized label attributes according to a priori themes, including sustainability. Total usage frequencies of sustainability-related labels, and frequencies of specific terms and certifications, were determined for each seafood type. Pearson chi-square analyses were conducted to evaluate statistical associations between seafood type and sustainability labeling practices. Results Thirty-eight attributes (11.9%) were coded as sustainability labels. Overall, more salmon (47.9%) and shrimp (47.6%) packages displayed sustainability labels than did oysters (26.5%), (χ2 (2, N = 2,200) = 14.443, P = 0.001). Specific terms used varied by seafood type. Salmon (41.6%) and oyster (26.5%) packages displaying sustainability labels most frequently utilized unstandardized “environmental” terms, whereas shrimp packages (36%) most often displayed a third-party sustainability certification label. Lesser-used terms included planet friendly, responsibly produced, and responsibly caught. Conclusion While encouraging that nearly half the evaluated salmon and shrimp packages reference sustainability, use of terminology and certifications across and within seafood types is inconsistent. Future studies might investigate whether more frequent use of standardized sustainability labels measurably increases seafood purchase and consumption.

Evacuation before severe coastal storms is a critical tool for keeping coastal residents safe. Effective messaging of evacuations could help save lives, but there is little evidence-based guidance on the advantages or disadvantages of specific messaging. Ideally, evacuation messages would convince those most at risk to evacuate and those who do not need to evacuate to stay in their homes. Using an online survey of 1716 coastal residents in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, this study randomly assigned respondents to message conditions in each of two hypothetical storm scenarios. Results from the first scenario indicate that those who saw mandatory evacuation messages had higher evacuation intentions than those who saw advisory messages, and both of those messages resulted in slightly higher evacuation intentions than voluntary evacuation messages. However, voluntary messages resulted in lower evacuation intentions for those that did not live in evacuation zones compared to those who did live in evacuation zones, which may help reduce shadow evacuation. In the second scenario, identifying an evacuation area by the municipality name or the individual’s street name resulted in similar evacuation intentions across all participants. Messages identifying an evacuation area by “flood zone” or “flood-prone area” resulted in equally high evacuation intentions for those who believe they live in a flood zone, but these messages suppressed evacuation intentions for those who do not believe they live in a flood zone. This indicates that such messages could also be an effective approach for reducing shadow evacuation. Implications for risk communicators and emergency managers are discussed.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to characterize food products that make front-of-package protein claims. The study will also determine how these protein-labeled products compare nutritionally to similar products without protein claims. METHODS: Products with front-of-package protein claims were analyzed using Label Insight, an online product database of label information and product images for over 330,000 foods. Product categories with the greatest proportion of products with protein claims were determined. An assessment of which type of protein claim (e.g., “Good Source of Protein,” “5 g of protein per serving”) is present most frequently was performed. Logistic regression was used to predict the types of claims that are made based on the type of product (e.g., yogurt, cereal). Additionally, within those product categories that contain a high proportion of protein-labeled products, a cross-sectional comparison of the calorie, protein, fat, sugar, and sodium content of food products with and without front-of-package protein labels was completed. RESULTS: Preliminary data reveal that the three food categories with the greatest proportion of protein claims relative to all products in that category are: Dairy, Frozen Food, and Cereal & Breakfast Foods. These categories are comprised of 15.33%, 14.32%, and 13.83% of products with protein claims, respectively. Preliminary results for the nutritional comparisons of cereal using Mann-Whitney U tests revealed that median protein per 100 g and median total fat per 100 g were both statistically significantly higher in the cereals with protein labels than in the cereal without protein labels, (U = 79, 616.5, P

Qualified health claims (QHC) describe diet&ndash, disease relationships and summarize the quality and strength of evidence for a claim. Companies assert that QHCs increase sales and take legal action to ensure claims reflect their interests. Yet, there is no empirical evidence that QHCs influence consumers. Using green tea as a case study, this study investigated the effects of QHCs on purchase intentions among adults 55 years and older living in the US. An online survey using a between-subjects design examined QHCs about the relationship between green tea and the reduced risk of breast and/or prostate cancer or yukichi fruit juice and the reduced risk of gastrocoridalis, a fictitious relationship. QHCs written by a green tea company generated greater perceptions of evidence for the relationship, greater confidence in green tea and cancer, and increased purchase intentions for green tea than other QHCs. Factors that mitigated the claim&rsquo, s effects on purchase intentions are: Race/ethnicity, age, importance of health claims, supplement use, health, worry about health/becoming sick with cancer, worry that led to dietary change, green tea consumption, and familiarity with the green tea&ndash, cancer. Consumers who made health-related dietary change in the past year and consider health claims important indicated greater purchase intentions than others.

Background Foods with front-of-package protein labels are rapidly being added to market shelves. Because the nutritional content of these products may not be substantially different from other similar products, it is important to determine if consumers perceive them as being healthier than comparable products without protein claims. Objective To examine how a front-of-package protein label on a box of cereal influences healthfulness perceptions. Study Design, Setting, Participants Utilizing a nationally representative sample, 1,022 adults participated in an online survey. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Participants were shown images of two cereals (Special K Original and Special K Protein) and asked comparative questions about overall healthfulness, health benefits, and nutrients. Descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were performed. Results Participants perceived Special K Protein as healthier ( P = .029), more nutritious ( P P Conclusion Participants perceived Special K Protein to be healthier and more nutritious than Special K Original, while also more frequently and incorrectly attributing health benefits to Special K Protein. These results demonstrate that there is a health halo surrounding this protein-labeled product, which warrants further investigation and the possibility for consumer education. Funding None.

Qualified health claims (QHCs) are found on food and dietary supplement labels and aim to communicate the quality and strength of scientific evidence for a diet-disease relationship. Since the evidence varies for diet-disease relationships, the language to describe the evidence also varies. However, research indicates that consumers misinterpret QHCs as a whole product evaluation. The FDA is reviewing the evidence ranking system for QHCs and the current study aims to inform future consumer research. A content analysis examined the language used to convey scientific evidence in 53 QHCs and organized them into an intrinsic scale of evidence. Results revealed 36 formats to present the evidence in 53 QHCs. Seventy-seven percent (n = 41) demonstrate a reading level above 9th grade. Most claims describe the quality of evidence (n = 51, 96%) ("very weak") and/or reference its consistency (n = 41, 77%), while a quarter (n = 13) also quantify the evidence ("two studies"). Twenty-five claims (47%) present the evidence before stating the diet-disease relationship. There is an absence of a systematic description of evidence among QHCs that may contribute to the misleading, albeit unintentional, nature of these claims. Policymakers might consider reforming QHC regulations so that a hierarchy of evidence for diet-disease relationships is clearly communicated to consumers.

Perceptions of institutions that manage hazards are important because they can affect how the public responds to hazard events. Antecedents of trust judgments have received far more attention than antecedents of attributions of responsibility for hazard events. We build upon a model of retrospective attribution of responsibility to individuals to examine these relationships regarding five classes of institutions that bear responsibility for food safety: producers (e.g., farmers), processors (e.g., packaging firms), watchdogs (e.g., government agencies), sellers (e.g., supermarkets), and preparers (e.g., restaurants). A nationally representative sample of 1,200 American adults completed an Internet-based survey in which a hypothetical scenario involving contamination of diverse foods with Salmonella served as the stimulus event. Perceived competence and good intentions of the institution moderately decreased attributions of responsibility. A stronger factor was whether an institution was deemed (potentially) aware of the contamination and free to act to prevent or mitigate it. Responsibility was rated higher the more aware and free the institution. This initial model for attributions of responsibility to impersonal institutions (as opposed to individual responsibility) merits further development.

Modern conceptions of science literacy include knowledge of science facts; a grasp of scientific methods, norms, and practices; awareness of current discoveries and controversies involving science and refinement of the ability to comprehend and evaluate their implications; the capability to assess the priorities and actions of scientific institutions; and the capacity to engage in civic discourse and decision-making with regard to specific issues involving science. Advocates of increased science literacy maintain that widespread public understanding of science benefits individuals, culture, society, the economy, the nation, democracy, and science itself. This chapter argues that the relatively crude measures currently employed to assess science literacy are insufficient to demonstrate these outcomes. It is difficult to know whether these benefits are real and are independent of greater levels of education. Existing measures should be supplanted by multidimensional scales that are parsimonious, easy to administer, reliable, and valid over time and across cultures.

As science communication scholars, we encourage interdisciplinary efforts such as those by Blancke, Grunewald, and De Jaeger to engage with the public on GMOs and genetic engineering broadly. We extend the advice given by these scholars with tips based on what we know from the science of science communication.

In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has oversight for qualified health claims (QHCs). These claims emerged as the result of a legal dispute about commercial speech rights on dietary supplements and food products. The initial court ruling allowed manufacturers to include diet–disease information on packaging, when supporting evidence does not meet the traditional threshold of Significant Scientific Agreement. QHCs communicate about a potential health benefit of the consumption of a food or supplement, and due to their nature, are required to specify the balance of evidence behind the diet–disease relationships. As a result, the language contained in QHCs is complex, making them difficult for consumers to understand. The language has been further complicated by a continuing series of court challenges about how scientific evidence is described in QHCs. To understand the evolution of QHC language, we review the progression of court rulings surrounding qualified health claims and subsequent regulations by the FDA. This analysis provides a case study of the challenging task of effective science communication within a dynamic food litigation and policy environment.

New technologies are hitting the marketplace every day. In trying to make sense of these new technologies, consumers perceive a series of risks and benefits of consumption and use those perceptions to form product judgments. One way for managers to mitigate organizational related risk is to understand how consumers perceive consumption-related risk. To illustrate this point, the case of genetically modified (GM) food is examined and a series of focus groups is conducted in which participants examined different product labels that either framed the technology as a benefit gained or as a risk avoided. The results indicate that consumers do indeed form very different product evaluations based on how the new technology is framed, but these evaluations vary based on the level of the consumers’ preexisting knowledge. This study provides support for the contention that a better understanding of consumer risk perceptions is an important first step in developing marketing strategies for new technology-oriented products. C

Food consumption choices are laden with meaning beyond issues of health or nutrition. Unfortunately, these choices are often driven by cultural constructs obtained from popular culture or word of mouth. Because food is ubiquitous, imbedded in our cultural milieu, and absolutely essential to life, it is important to consider the potential variables that confound the dissemination of scientific information about food issues. The results of a decade-worth of multiple audience studies examining public perceptions about the food/health linkage of food and new food technologies demonstrate that scientific illiteracy and confusion are often key to consumers' ability to evaluate and make decisions about food choices. Science centers' and museums' expertise in communicating science to multiple audiences could play an important role in addressing scientific illiteracy about food.

Home food inventories of Oaxacan Mexican-American and African-American families of low-socioeconomic status living in an urban area in New Jersey with at least one child under the age of 12 were conducted using Universal Product Code scanning. The African-American and Oaxacan household food supplies were compared with a sample of White households, also with at least one child under the age of 12, not of low-socioeconomic status. Nutrient Adequacy Ratios for total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, sugar, dietary fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron were used to quantify the adequacy of household food supplies per 2000 cal. The food supplies of the White households had significantly more calcium, vitamin A, and sugar and less total fat than the other two samples. The home food supplies of African-American households contained significantly less vitamin C than White and Oaxacan households. Compared to both other samples, Oaxacan household food supplies were lower in protein, sodium, and iron. Per 2000 cal, African-American households had the lowest supply of nutrients recommended to be maximized (i.e., vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, protein, and dietary fiber) and highest supply of nutrients to be minimized (i.e., total fat, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar). Overall household food quality scores were lowest for the African-American sample with no differences between Oaxacan and White household food supply quality scores.

This paper examines the relationship between risk perceptions, affect and the economic consequences of a bio-security threat against the U.S. food system. The main argument is that there exists a link between risk perceptions and economic behavior. The paper raises conjectures through a utility-theoretic economic model and examines these through two separate surveys, the first being a hypothetical agroterrorist attack and the second a hypothetical discovery of ‘bird flu’ in the United States. The results provide strong evidence that risk perception and fear can interact with consumption in an economically significant way.

In September 2006, an unprecedented nationwide outbreak of fresh spinach contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 was communicated to the American public through press releases from the Food and Drug Administration. The potential for severe and fatal illness from consuming this spinach required effective communication by media outlets. Television network news coverage (ABC, CBS, and NBC morning and evening news shows) was examined for quantity, consistency with press release information critical for public health, and source usage. Results of this study consider the role of government information subsidies in disseminating information critical to public health, with potential impact for communication of other national health crises.

Objectives. We sought to determine the frequency of psychological symptoms and elevated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk among New York City firefighters after the World Trade Center (WTC) attack and whether these measures were associated with Counseling Services Unit (CSU) use or mental health–related medical leave over the first 2.5 years after the attack. Methods. Shortly after the WTC attack, a computerized, binary-response screening questionnaire was administered. Exposure assessment included WTC arrival time and “loss of a co-worker while working at the collapse.” We determined elevated PTSD risk using thresholds derived from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, and a sensitivity-specificity analysis. Results. Of 8487 participants, 76% reported at least 1 symptom, 1016 (12%) met criteria for elevated PTSD risk, and 2389 (28%) self-referred to the CSU, a 5-fold increase from before the attack. Higher scores were associated with CSU use, functional job impairment, and mental health–related medical leave. Exposure–response gradients were significant for all outcomes. Conclusions. This screening tool effectively identified elevated PTSD risk, higher CSU use, and functional impairment among firefighters and therefore may be useful in allocating scarce postdisaster mental health resources.

This study analyzes predictors of South Korean public acceptance of the use of biotechnology to create genetically modified food products. Results indicate that those consumers with above average knowledge of specific outcomes of genetic modification were more likely to approve of the use of plant or animal genetic modification for the creation of new food products than those with inaccurate or no knowledge. Moreover, younger South Korean consumers were more likely than older consumers to approve of the use of biotechnology to create both plant and animal based foods. Further, the study produced evidence of different levels of approval of biotechnology among consumers from different residential areas, income levels and political affiliation. Thus, those living in cities, those with incomes above 40 million Won, and those who described themselves as having a liberal political affiliation were found to have a higher approval level for animal biotechnology. [JEL Classification: Q13, M31, D12] © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Purpose – This study aims to identify and estimate the influence of consumers' views of specific food aspects (attributes) and personal attributes on demand for organic foods.Design/methodology/approach – A logistic regression is applied to US national survey data to analyze consumers' willingness to buy organic foods. The modeling approach assumes a rational consumer with a well‐behaved utility function (i.e. with preferences that are complete, reflexive and transitive).Findings – Food naturalness aspect (no artificial flavors or colorings), vegetarian‐vegan identity (persons who do not eat meat or animal products) and US production location considerations were critical in determining the regularity of organic food purchases. Food familiarity aspect (whether the respondent has consumed a food previously or prefers a familiar brand) was negatively associated with organic food purchases. Females and young people buy organic foods on a regular basis, as do the more politically liberal and moderately religio...

Using ‘general trust in institutions’ and ‘concepts of nature’ as examples, the article analyzes the influence of cultural factors on sense-making of food biotechnology and the resulting public attitudes in the USA and Germany. According to the hypotheses investigated, different levels of trust and appreciation of nature explain part of the well-known differences in attitudes between both countries. The analysis of a cross-cultural survey of the general population shows that appreciation of nature is a predictor of attitudes in both countries. The higher appreciation of nature in Germany partly explains why attitudes towards food biotechnology are more negative in Germany than in the USA. The relationship between trust and attitudes is more complex than expected, however. Institutional trust is a moderate predictor of attitudes towards food biotechnology in the USA but not in Germany. To explain the varying effectiveness of trust in resolving innovation-related uncertainty we refer to differences in issue framing in both countries and to the higher degree of universalism and individualism in the USA. We conclude that the higher relevance of trust and the lower appreciation of nature make the U.S. culture more apt to assimilate technical innovations than the German culture.

Perceptions of institutions that manage hazards are important because they can affect how the public responds to hazard events. Antecedents of trust judgments have received far more attention than antecedents of attributions of responsibility for hazard events. We build upon a model of retrospective attribution of responsibility to individuals to examine these relationships regarding five classes of institutions that bear responsibility for food safety: producers (e.g., farmers), processors (e.g., packaging firms), watchdogs (e.g., government agencies), sellers (e.g., supermarkets), and preparers (e.g., restaurants). A nationally representative sample of 1,200 American adults completed an Internet-based survey in which a hypothetical scenario involving contamination of diverse foods with Salmonella served as the stimulus event. Perceived competence and good intentions of the institution moderately decreased attributions of responsibility. A stronger factor was whether an institution was deemed (potentially) aware of the contamination and free to act to prevent or mitigate it. Responsibility was rated higher the more aware and free the institution. This initial model for attributions of responsibility to impersonal institutions (as opposed to individual responsibility) merits further development.

Trust is important for the perception of many types of risk, including those relating to genetically modified (GM) food. Who the public trusts in any given circumstance, however, is not well understood. In this study of public trust regarding GM food, an exploratory factor analysis with Promax rotation reveals public classification of three common institutional types-evaluators, watchdogs, and merchants. The structure of relationships among these stakeholders can act to enable or constrain public support for this new technology. Evaluators-scientists, universities, and medical professionals-are the most trusted. Watchdogs-consumer advocacy organizations, environmental organizations, and media sources-are moderately trusted. Merchants-grocers and grocery stores, industry, and farmers-are least trusted. While the federal government is seen as closest to being an evaluator, it is not highly correlated with any of the factors. The lack of trust in the organizations with the greatest resources and responsibilities for ensuring the safety of GM food should be seen as an important obstacle to the adoption of the technology.

Past research shows that fewer health symptoms are reported by phone than by mail.We sought to examine whether interview mode-dependent differences in health symptom reporting are the result of socially desirable responding or to expending less cognitive effort when formulating responses, a behavior known as satisficing.Participants were randomly assigned to telephone interview only or to mail interview followed 2 weeks later by telephone interview.Participants were American veterans from the Gulf War Registry (n=719).Our main outcome measure was the number of mild, moderate, or severe symptoms reported (of 48 possible).Veterans reported an average of 5 more symptoms via mail than via telephone, F (1, 709) = 32.50, P0.001. The difference was mainly the result of symptoms reported by mail as mild but not reported at all by phone. Veterans with higher social desirability scores reported fewer symptoms by phone and mail, F (1, 709) = 10.11, P = 0.001, but social desirability scores did not interact with interview mode. Furthermore, embarrassing symptoms such as genital complaints were no less likely to be reported by phone.Reporting of better health in phone surveys is the result of fewer mild symptoms reports but not of socially desirable responding. The findings are consistent with phone interviews encouraging satisficing by limiting the recall of less severe health states. Researchers should handle mild symptom reports with some skepticism.