Perspectives on Food Safety and Their Influence on Food Choice in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Current efforts to address food safety through supply-side risk management consider food safety primarily in terms of biological and chemical hazards, ignoring the importance of individuals’ experiences and perspectives. This study aimed to understand how experiences and perspectives of food safety influence food choice in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods The Drivers of Food Choice Competitive Grants Program funded 15 projects that aimed to understand food choice among the poor across 10 LMICs in Sub Saharan Africa and South and South East Asia. Summaries of the role of food safety in decisions about food choice were reviewed with principal investigators from 6 projects with significant findings. We used an iterative process of thematic analysis across all project summaries followed by respondent validation to categorize findings with shared meaning into themes of conditions and characteristics that either contributed to perceptions of a lack of food safety or to an overall perspective on food safety. Results Food was considered to be safe if purchased from vendors who had good food and personal hygiene practices or with whom individuals had positive relationships. Food was also considered to be safe if it was prepared at home. Perceptions of a lack of food safety were increased by fears of adulteration by vendors and contamination in physical environments with poor sanitation or handling practices. Policies and regulations offered increased guarantees of safety but were not always trusted nor convenient, and social networks and the media were important sources of both real and false information about food safety. Conclusions Individuals rely on their experiences, attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions in making decisions about what foods to buy, prepare, and consume, and from which sources. Understanding how perspectives of food safety influence food choice can be harnessed to improve food safety and contribute to sustainable healthy diets. Efforts to achieve sustainable healthy diets through behavior change communication or incentives to supply chain actors must acknowledge perspectives on food safety as important drivers of food choice. Funding Sources UK Government's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.