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Djekic I, Hambardzumyan G, Nikolić A, Mujčinović A, Nakov D, Nikolova AS, Semenova AA, Kuznetsova OA, Oz F, Oz E, Terjung N, Volker H, Tomasevic I. Confronting Views of Companies and Authorities on Food Safety Issues-A Cross-Country Survey. Foods 2024; 13:773. [PMID: 38472886 DOI: 10.3390/foods13050773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigated food safety issues as perceived by food companies and food safety authorities in six countries in Europe and Central Asia. A total of 66 companies and 16 authorities participated in the survey. The results provide important insights related to what the main food safety priorities are, how they are addressed in the countries that participated in the survey, and what the role of the main stakeholders is in the food value chain. Almost 50% of food companies identified 'food fraud' as the most influential food safety attribute. One-third of food safety authorities recognized 'food safety management system' as the most influential food safety attribute. Principal component analysis separated food safety statements into two dimensions named 'food safety hazards and risks' and 'food safety system'. Although there are slight differences in food safety statements between the two stakeholders, i.e., food companies and food safety authorities, it is the country of origin that plays a more important role in understanding their views. Food companies will need to implement a systemic approach and transform the entire food value chain continuum while considering new food safety challenges. It is expected that food safety authorities will have to play a more proactive role in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilija Djekic
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Garegin Hambardzumyan
- Veterinary Sanitary Examination, Food Safety and Hygiene Department, Armenian National Agrarian University, Yerevan 0009, Armenia
| | - Aleksandra Nikolić
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Alen Mujčinović
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Dimitar Nakov
- Faculty of Agriculture, "Goce Delčev" University in Štip, 2000 Shtip, North Macedonia
| | - Aleksandra Silovska Nikolova
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food, SS Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Shtip, North Macedonia
| | | | - Oksana A Kuznetsova
- V. M. Gorbatov Federal Research Center for Food Systems, Moscow 107023, Russia
| | - Fatih Oz
- Faculty of Agriculture, Ataturk University, Erzurum 25030, Türkiye
| | - Emel Oz
- Faculty of Agriculture, Ataturk University, Erzurum 25030, Türkiye
| | - Nino Terjung
- DIL German Institute of Food Technology, 49610 Quakenbrück, Germany
| | - Heinz Volker
- DIL German Institute of Food Technology, 49610 Quakenbrück, Germany
| | - Igor Tomasevic
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
- DIL German Institute of Food Technology, 49610 Quakenbrück, Germany
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Tomasevic I, Hambardzumyan G, Marmaryan G, Nikolic A, Mujcinovic A, Sun W, Liu XC, Bursać Kovačević D, Markovinović AB, Terjung N, Heinz V, Papageorgiou M, Skendi A, Goel G, Raghav M, Dalle Zotte A, Nakov D, Velkoska V, Sołowiej BG, Semenova AA, Kuznetsova OA, Krocko M, Duckova V, Lorenzo JM, Echegaray N, Oz E, Oz F, Djekic I. Eurasian consumers' food safety beliefs and trust issues in the age of COVID-19: evidence from an online survey in 15 countries. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2023; 103:7362-7373. [PMID: 37394888 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.12815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This investigation provides an important insight into Eurasian consumers' food safety beliefs and trust issues influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was conducted in 15 European and Asian countries involving more than 4000 consumers. RESULTS It has confirmed that different socioeconomic characteristics, cultural aspects and education levels shape food safety perceptions within Eurasian countries. The COVID-19 pandemic influenced their beliefs and trust in food safety, which is relatively low on average. However, it is significantly higher for European consumers (especially European Union ones) compared to their Asian counterparts. Both Asian and European respondents agreed that food fraud and climate changes represent a food safety issue. However, European consumers were less concerned regarding the food safety of genetically modified foods and meat and dairy analogs/hybrids. Asian consumers were, to a greater extent, worried about the risk of getting COVID-19 from food, restaurants, food retail establishments and home food deliveries. CONCLUSION Eurasian consumers have put their greatest extent of trust, when food safety assurance is concerned, into food scientists and food producers holding a food safety certificate. Broadly, they are uncertain to what extent their federal governments and food inspectors are competent, able and efficient in ensuring food safety. Higher education of Eurasian consumers was followed by increased food safety confidence in all parts of the food chain. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Tomasevic
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL), Quakenbrück, Germany
- Department of Dairy Technology and Functional Foods, Faculty of Food Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | | | | | - Aleksandra Nikolic
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Alen Mujcinovic
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Weizheng Sun
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Chen Liu
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | | | | | - Nino Terjung
- German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL), Quakenbrück, Germany
| | - Volker Heinz
- German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL), Quakenbrück, Germany
| | - Maria Papageorgiou
- Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Adriana Skendi
- Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Gunjan Goel
- Department of Microbiology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh, India
| | - Mamta Raghav
- Department of Life Sciences, RPS Degree College, Mahendragarh, India
| | - Antonella Dalle Zotte
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Dimitar Nakov
- Faculty of Agriculture, "Goce Delcev" University in Stip, Shtip, Republic of North Macedonia
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, "Goce Delcev" University in Stip, Shtip, Republic of North Macedonia
| | - Valentina Velkoska
- Faculty of Agriculture, "Goce Delcev" University in Stip, Shtip, Republic of North Macedonia
| | - Bartosz G Sołowiej
- Department of Dairy Technology and Functional Foods, Faculty of Food Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | | | | | - Miroslav Krocko
- Department of Technology and Quality of Animal Products, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Institute of Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Viera Duckova
- Department of Technology and Quality of Animal Products, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Institute of Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Jose M Lorenzo
- Centro Tecnológico de la Carne de Galicia, Ourense, Spain
| | | | - Emel Oz
- Department of Food Engineering, Agriculture Faculty, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Türkiye
| | - Fatih Oz
- Department of Food Engineering, Agriculture Faculty, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Türkiye
| | - Ilija Djekic
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Spagnoli P, Vlerick P, Jacxsens L. Food safety culture maturity and its relation to company and employee characteristics. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21561. [PMID: 38027773 PMCID: PMC10654140 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Three facets of food safety culture (FSC) (i.e., food safety management system (FSMS), human-organizational and human-individual building block), were diagnosed through a validated mixed-method assessment in twenty food processing companies. Many underdeveloped dimensions were detected in the FSMS and the human-organizational building block, while the human-individual building block was more mature. It was explored whether company (e.g., company size) and employee characteristics (e.g. leaders vs. non-leaders) are associated with FSC maturity (based on 1410 employee responses) through a cluster analysis and statistical (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis) tests. Results revealed significant differences (p-value <0.05) based on company characteristics (significant differences based on: size, belonging to a larger group, product type, place in the supply chain, training frequency, certificates, maturity of control and assurance activities) and employee characteristics (significant differences based on: leaders vs. non-leaders, daily direct contact with food or not, seniority, time since training and psychosocial well-being). These findings are useful to develop tailored food safety culture improvement interventions to enhance the maturity of food safety culture in food companies, as these might focus on lower perceiving (sub)groups of employees or lower perceiving (sub)groups of companies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Spagnoli
- Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vlerick
- Department of Work, Organization and Society, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Jacxsens
- Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Nakat Z, Tayoun V, Merhi S, Bou-Mitri C, Karam L. Food safety culture in food companies amid the Lebanese economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19885. [PMID: 37810006 PMCID: PMC10559281 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The challenges to food safety in Lebanon are many and have worsened due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Lebanese economic crisis. Against a backdrop of loosely enforced food laws and regulations, a cross-sectional study was carried out in 23 Lebanese food companies on 204 participants using a validated online food safety culture self-assessment tool consisting of 28 indicators. Food safety motivation, burnout/job stress and conscientiousness and their impact on food safety culture were also investigated. Overall, the perceived food safety culture was "good" with a mean value of 119.1 over 140 (equivalent to 4.3/5). A young workforce, the female gender, a science background, and a university degree were associated with a higher food safety culture. The food safety culture score was also perceived higher among participants who attended food safety trainings, and among those working at the managerial level and in the quality department. In addition, the results showed that the food safety culture was significantly better in companies exporting their goods than companies with no international market exposure (121.6 vs 118.1). Moreover, Food safety motivation (mean score 4.1/5) and conscientiousness (3.5/5) were moderately associated with a positive food safety culture. However, the low burnout/job stress scores (2.8/5) may exhibit a negative impact on the food safety culture and could be related to several consequences caused by the Lebanese economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. Further studies are to be conducted to understand better the causal effects relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeina Nakat
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Notre Dame University, Zouk Mosbeh, P.O.Box: 72, Zouk Mikael, Lebanon
- Afnor Group, Nohra Bldg., Tahwita Highway, Furn El Chebbak. P.O.Box: 16-5806, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Vera Tayoun
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Notre Dame University, Zouk Mosbeh, P.O.Box: 72, Zouk Mikael, Lebanon
| | - Samar Merhi
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Notre Dame University, Zouk Mosbeh, P.O.Box: 72, Zouk Mikael, Lebanon
| | - Christelle Bou-Mitri
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Notre Dame University, Zouk Mosbeh, P.O.Box: 72, Zouk Mikael, Lebanon
| | - Layal Karam
- Human Nutrition Department, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar
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Vidaček Filipec S, Ratković P, Bittsánszky A, Tóth AJ, Lima JPM, Rocha A. Food safety knowledge and climate in the university canteens of three European countries. Ital J Food Saf 2023; 12:10580. [PMID: 37680318 PMCID: PMC10480926 DOI: 10.4081/ijfs.2023.10580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The association of food safety knowledge and climate with gender, education level, length of employment, food safety training, and professional role was measured using a 15-item food safety climate survey and a 20-item food safety questionnaire on a sample of 263 employees from 19 small and medium-sized university canteens in Croatia, Hungary, and Portugal. The relationship between knowledge and climate and the demographic determinants of both variables were examined. Food safety knowledge was inadequate (45.5% of correct responses), while perceptions of food safety, as measured by the food safety climate survey, were positive (2.69 out of a maximum of 3.00). The perception of resources in canteens was the least favorable across all countries. Leaders did not exhibit better food safety knowledge or perceptions. Food safety climate and knowledge were significantly positively correlated and influenced by training. Perceptions of food safety compared to employee knowledge levels indicated that some employees were overly optimistic about food safety risks. Therefore, food safety knowledge and food safety climate should be assessed in parallel, and both could be improved through ongoing training of employees, especially leaders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Petra Ratković
- Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Croatia
| | - András Bittsánszky
- Indere Institute for Food System Research and Innovation Ltd, Budapest, Hungary
- Digital Food Chain Education Research Development and Innovation Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András József Tóth
- Indere Institute for Food System Research and Innovation Ltd, Budapest, Hungary
- Digital Food Chain Education Research Development and Innovation Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - João PM Lima
- GreenUPorto - Sustainable Agrifood Production Research Center, ciTechCare - Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology, Pedagogical and Scientific Unit of Dietetics and Nutrition, Coimbra Health School - Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ada Rocha
- GreenUPorto - Sustainable Agrifood Production Research Center, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal
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Zanin LM, Stedefeldt E, Luning PA. The evolvement of food safety culture assessment: A mixed-methods systematic review. Trends Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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7
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Djekic I, Nikolić A, Uzunović M, Marijke A, Liu A, Han J, Brnčić M, Knežević N, Papademas P, Lemoniati K, Witte F, Terjung N, Papageorgiou M, Zinoviadou KG, Dalle Zotte A, Pellattiero E, Sołowiej BG, Guiné RPF, Correia P, Sirbu A, Vasilescu L, Semenova AA, Kuznetsova OA, Vrabič Brodnjak U, Pateiro M, Lorenzo JM, Getya A, Kodak T, Tomasevic I. Covid-19 pandemic effects on food safety - Multi-country survey study. Food Control 2020; 122:107800. [PMID: 33281304 PMCID: PMC7707641 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This study provides an important insight into the response of food safety systems during the first months of the pandemic, elevating the perspective of preventing Covid-19 within conventional food safety management systems. A multi-country survey was conducted in 16 countries involving 825 food companies. Based on the results of the survey, it is obvious that the level of maturity of a food safety system in place is the main trigger in classifying companies and their responses to the pandemic challenge. Staff awareness and hygiene are the two most important attributes in combating Covid-19, opposed to temperature checking of workers in food establishment and health protocols from the World Health Organization, recognized as attributes with limited salience and importance. Companies confirmed implementation of more restrictive hygiene procedures during the pandemic and the need for purchasing more additional personal protective equipment. Retailers were identified as the food supply chain link mostly affected by the pandemic opposed to food storage facilities ranked as least affected. During this challenging period, all companies declared that food safety has not been compromised at any moment. It is important to note that less than a half of the food companies had documented any emergency plans associated with pandemics and health issues in place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilija Djekic
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandra Nikolić
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Mirza Uzunović
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Aluwé Marijke
- Animal Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Scheldeweg, Melle, Belgium
| | - Aijun Liu
- China Center for Food Security Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiqin Han
- China Center for Food Security Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mladen Brnčić
- Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Photis Papademas
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus
| | - Katerina Lemoniati
- Veterinary Public Health Division, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Cyprus
| | - Franziska Witte
- DIL - Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e. V. - German Institute of Food Technologies, Quakenbrück, Germany
| | - Nino Terjung
- DIL - Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e. V. - German Institute of Food Technologies, Quakenbrück, Germany
| | - Maria Papageorgiou
- Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Kyriaki G Zinoviadou
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Perrotis College, American Farm School, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Antonella Dalle Zotte
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova Agripolis, Padova, Italy
| | - Erika Pellattiero
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova Agripolis, Padova, Italy
| | - Bartosz G Sołowiej
- Department of Milk Technology and Hydrocolloids, Faculty of Food Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Raquel P F Guiné
- CERNAS-IPV Research Centre, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Viseu, Portugal
| | - Paula Correia
- CERNAS-IPV Research Centre, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Viseu, Portugal
| | | | - Liliana Vasilescu
- National Agricultural Research and Development Institute Fundulea, Romania
| | - Anastasia A Semenova
- V.M. Gorbatov Federal Research Center for Food Systems of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Oksana A Kuznetsova
- V.M. Gorbatov Federal Research Center for Food Systems of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Mirian Pateiro
- Fundación Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne, San Cibrao Das Viñas, Ourense, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel Lorenzo
- Área de Tecnología de Los Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias de Ourense, Universidad de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - Andriy Getya
- National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Tetiana Kodak
- Poltava State Agrarian Academy, Department of Food Technology, Poltava, Ukraine
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