Factors affecting consumers’ food safety behavior in Vietnam

Abstract

To improve food safety interventions and policy actions, it is important to investigate factors that affect the food safety behavior of consumers in the domestic environment. This study is the result of a combination of two other studies. The Expert Study applied the Delphi method to organize responses and opinions of food safety experts in Vietnam to investigate critical factors affecting food safety behavior. The Disadvantaged People Study was implemented to investigate potential factors from the perspectives of disadvantaged people preparing meals for their families or feeding themselves. The final set of factors was compiled when both studies had been completed, and includes demographic factors, motivation factors (knowledge about causes of food-borne illness and safe food handling practices; perceived risk of food-borne illness and safe food handling practices), enabling factors (being informed with food safety guidance; availability of appropriate tools, space, and resources; and lifestyle), and maintaining factors (habits and heuristics; food preferences; and societal and social influences). Efforts to improve consumers’ food safety behavior should pay more attention to contextual factors to be in line with local norms, and address various factors preventing food-borne diseases in the domestic environment.