PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF FOOD SAFETY

A public opinion survey of adult Texans assessed public knowledge of and concern over food safety issues related to undercooked hamburger. Only about half the respondents had concerns about undercooked hamburger. A majority could identify one foodborne pathogen, but were far less aware of other hazards associated with undercooked meat. Less than half the respondents made an effort to obtain food safety information. The mass media, especially printed forms, served as the chief source of food safety information likely source of information. Awareness of food hazards and knowledge of food hazards were higher among females and persons with more education and income. Ethnic differences across these variables indicate that aspects of food safety issues are more germaine to some groups than others, but otherwise no clear patterns of differences emerge by ethnicity.