Effective Food Safety Risk Communication Would Build Consumer Trust

Institute of Food Technologists President Robert Gravani told the recently-held Food System Summit that effective risk communication is critical to handling food safety issues. Not only would better communication protect food companies, it would also inspire consumer trust and confidence in the food distribution system. He outlined several best practices for insuring better risk communication, including prompt response, creating a crisis communication network, accepting uncertainty, partnering with the public, being open and honest, and being accessible to the media. According to the IFT, the food industry over the next ten years needs to double the yield of food from the same amount of land. That fact heightens consumer concerns about food safety and food labeling, issues that have grabbed headlines in the U.S. in the past year.