Influences On Behaviour Towards Food-Related Health Risks
The aim of this study was to examine the role of trust and blame in individuals perception of the food industry and BSE crisis in particular.
Over a third of respondents did stop eating U.K. beef due to the BSE crisis, but only for a limited period of time.
In general, U.K. beef consumption has returned to pre-BSE crisis levels.
Overall consumption of beef remains lower than before the BSE crisis but consumption of prime cuts is almost back to previous levels.
In this initial survey, most changes in eating habits were due to change in life circumstances, by leaving home to attend a university.
There was, however, a noticeable desire to change eating habits for health and fitness reasons.
The primary impact of the BSE crisis has been on attitudes to food safety, the process of regulation and information provision.
The main sources of information are the government and the mass media, although neither source is trusted.
The European Union was trusted to tell the truth even though the U.K. Government were not. This may reflect the fact that the EU are not regarded as stakeholders in the U.K. farming industry.