Food safety and risk communication

Recent "food safety crisis", such as BSE and dioxin, have determined panic waves in public opinion and a growing sense of mistrust towards inspection authorities. These latter have often proved to be unable to give correct in formation, thus causing less understanding and wavering attitudes in consum ers and politicians. The Authors review risk perception and communication p roblems, in regard of their application in food industry and of the creatio n of the European Food Authority, as suggested by the European Commission i n the White Paper on Food Safety.