Public perception of a range of potential food risks in the United Kingdom

This study aimed to use a standard questionnaire to obtain a nationally representative sample of opinions on a range of potential food risks. Participants were a national sample of 1182 subjects selected using three different approaches: random and sentinel postal samples and a telephone survey. A modified psychometric questionnaire (the Perceived Food Risk Index) was administered to subjects on three occasions, spanning five time-points. Baseline data collection was undertaken from October to December 1998 (phase 1). The second wave of data collection was undertaken over three time-points in February, April and July 1999 (one-third of respondents to phase 1 at each time-point - data combined as phase 2), and the final phase of data collection was between October and December 1999 (phase 3). Principal components analysis was used to assess the intercorrelations between the items on the questionnaire. Two main components were identified as 'dread' and 'knowledge'. Saturated fats were perceived as the least dreaded and the most known of the potential risks considered, while bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Salmonella were the risks dreaded the most. There was a slight perception that the potential risks had become more known over the year, especially for growth hormones. This study has raised a number of important issues for risk communicators. Despite current policy aimed at reducing fat intake, this will be difficult to achieve at a population level since people are not worried about its impact, yet food safety continues to be a significant concern to the public.