식품위해 인식실태 및 위험커뮤니케이션 방안 연구

Food-related hazards such as BSE and AI hazards and food borne illnesses occurred in the past 2-3 years. Consumers have become keenly sensitive to food due to the frequent occurrence of health-related problems associated with contaminated food and other food risks. Consumer's confidence in the safety of food is decreasing, not to mention the government's ability in dealing with food-related hazards and food safety practices. Mass media plays an important role in risk communication and the formation of public opinion, which contributes to raising awareness on the seriousness of food insecurity. Factors that trigger media coverage have been explored and described. Governments around the world are striving to ensure food safety based on the 'From Farm To Table' initiative. Food safety experts and scientists have developed generic models for communication. Risk communication has evolved from the field of risk analysis system, which process is risk assessment - risk management - risk communication. Risk communication has been defined as an interactive process of information exchange that include various messages on food-related dangers. As a result, participatory democratic values now shape the way risk communication is done. Risk communication will not, even when effectively used, solve all the problems. on the other hand, ineffective or absent communication will almost certainly lead to a failure to manage risk effectively. Risk communication has two essential components - trust and perception. Building trust is a pivotal focus of risk communication. This poses as a problem for the government and its agencies as the public tend to regard the government as a less-than-trusted source of information. Value system shape general attitudes towards risk and combine with other factors such "dread factors" to determine how individuals will react to risk. As can be seen, effective food risk communication is much needed in helping consumers better understand food risk issues and regaining consumers' trust in food safety. This study aims to review current theories on food risk communication, to identify the level of consumer's understanding on food risk issues, to examine the food risk information channel and the level of consumer's confidence in food safety, consider effective policy programs for the government.