Digital Technology, Knowledge Level, and Food Safety Governance: Implications for National Healthcare System

Area of Science:

• Food Safety
• Digital Technology
• Public Policy

Background:

• The integration of digital technology into food safety supervision is a growing area of interest.
• Understanding the factors influencing the effectiveness of digital tools in this sector is crucial for public health.
• Existing research may not fully capture the nuanced relationship between technology adoption and regulatory efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To empirically analyze the correlation between digital technology development and food safety supervision efficiency in China.
• To investigate the moderating roles of food producer and consumer knowledge levels on this relationship.
• To provide policy recommendations for optimizing digital technology's impact on food safety.

Main Methods:

• Empirical analysis using sample data from 31 Chinese regions (2015-2017).
• Statistical examination of the correlation between digital technology indicators and food safety supervision efficiency.
• Assessment of moderating effects of producer and consumer knowledge levels.

Main Results:

• Digital technology development positively correlates with enhanced food safety supervision efficiency.
• Increased consumer knowledge amplifies the positive impact of digital technology.
• Higher producer knowledge showed a non-conducive effect, potentially linked to ethical and legal knowledge gaps in the industry.

Conclusions:

• Digital technology is a valuable tool for improving food safety supervision.
• Enhancing consumer digital literacy and producer ethical/legal knowledge are key to maximizing technology's benefits.
• Policy interventions should focus on both technological integration and human capital development for robust food safety systems.