4
ABSTRACT
In recent years, an unbroken chain of food alarms has catalyzed the attention of the media and public opinion, with complex effects on risks perception associated with food. The uncertainty of scientific data, the difficulty to understand the risks, but in particular the sensationalism news which have been submitted by media, have helped to influence a risk perception that often is not like the real food dangers. In fact if the risk is low, communication should reduce the concern of citizens and not emphasize the potential catastrophic to increase sales or listen; if the danger exists, it should stimulate an adequate risk perception.
The purpose of the thesis is the study of the risk perception which results from contamination of food in relation with food alarms given by the media and the current epidemiological situation.
To reach this purpose were made:
a) a epidemiological data analysis on food-borne infections in Tuscany and Puglia;
b) a quantitative and qualitative analysis of articles published from 1999 to 2008 on three newspapers widely spread, like “Republic”, “La Stampa” and “Il Corriere della Sera”;
c) a survey on a population sample by a self administered questionnaire.
Epidemiological data were derived from the notification of infectious diseases registered in the considered areas.
The study of the articles published on newspapers, was made on the Observatory
of Health Communication’s data base. The quantitative analysis was made
through DBT (textual database, developed by CNR), the qualitative ones was
conducted on articles corresponding to particular peaks of information and based
5
on the application of quality criteria: accuracy, reliability, comprehensibility, utility, balance and independence.
The questionnaire was made taking into account both media alarms reported, both the current epidemiological situation, as well as the national and European experiences on this topic.
The questionnaire was divided into 4 sections: a)the risk perception of the citizens on food; b)the impact of the media on risk perception on food following the alarms c)trust in the institutions for the food risk communication and alarms d)Basic knowledge of food hazards.
For the epidemiological data Tuscany and Puglia have been taken into account to evidence different situations; in general a gradual reduction of food-borne infections was observed also if in Puglia the picture is more complex, there are a lot of cases of salmonellosis, brucellosis, hepatitis A virus, typhoid fever and Listeriosis. Foods most involved in these infections are eggs, shellfish, meat, cakes and ice cream, pasta, soups and water. The community more involved in outbreaks of infections are groups of friends or family at home, customers or individual group of exercises and in public school canteens.
More than 18% of the total number of articles concerning health topics, are on food topic. Three were the main problems that have sparked storms related to the communicative power: BSE (more significant peaks in the first half of 2001), dioxin in food (the most significant peaks in the months of June-July 1999 and two months in March-April 2008) and avian influenza (most significant peaks from September 2005 to April 2006).
After a validation of a convenience sample, the questionnaire was administered to a sample of 702 people who live in Lucca, Pisa, Montecatini and Bari.
News on food safety are considered insufficintby the sample of the population
considered; furthermore it shows how these are increasingly supplied by the
6
