PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF FOOD SAFETY

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