“The Dose Makes the Poison”: Informing Consumers About the Scientific Risk Assessment of Food Additives

Bearth, Angela; Cousin, Marie‐Eve; Siegrist, Michael

doi:10.1111/risa.12410

Cited by 41 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…A number of prevalent misconceptions among laypeople regarding both natural and synthetic chemicals were identified, including dose–response insensitivity and the underestimation of the toxicity of chemicals of natural origin. The insensitivity to dose–response relationships and exposure scenarios was also identified in previous research (Bearth et al., ; Dickson‐Spillmann et al., ; Kraus et al., ; Slovic et al., ). Rather than a dose–response function, laypeople tend to perceive a causal relationship between exposure to a chemical and inevitable consequences, especially in the case of chemicals associated with carcinogenicity (MacGregor, Slovic, & Malmfors, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…In fact, a greater understanding of the risk assessment process is associated with a lower risk perception of chemicals, particularly in the case of synthetic chemicals (Dickson‐Spillmann et al., ; Kraus et al., ; Shim et al., ). Consequently, consumers probably require a basic knowledge of chemical and toxicology principles to enable them to make fact‐based decisions regarding chemical‐containing products (Bearth, Cousin, & Siegrist, ; Dickson‐Spillmann et al., ; Dickson‐Spillmann, Siegrist, Keller, & Wormuth, ; Kraus et al., ; Shim et al., ).…”

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Chemophobia” Today: Consumers’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Chemicals

2019

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This mixed-methods study investigated consumers' knowledge of chemicals in terms of basic principles of toxicology and then related this knowledge, in addition to other factors, to their fear of chemical substances (i.e., chemophobia). Both qualitative interviews and a large-scale online survey were conducted in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. A Mokken scale was developed to measure laypeople's toxicological knowledge. The results indicate that most laypeople are unaware of the similarities between natural and synthetic chemicals in terms of certain toxicological principles. Furthermore, their associations with the term "chemical substances" and the self-reported affect prompted by these associations are mostly negative. The results also suggest that knowledge of basic principles of toxicology, self-reported affect evoked by the term "chemical substances," risk-benefit perceptions concerning synthetic chemicals, and trust in regulation processes are all negatively associated with chemophobia, while general health concerns are positively related to chemophobia. Thus, to enhance informed consumer decisionmaking, it might be necessary to tackle the stigmatization of the term "chemical substances" as well as address and clarify prevalent misconceptions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Chemophobia” Today: Consumers’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Chemicals

2019

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“…A large body of evidence from other areas of research suggested that the imbalance in knowledge between experts or stakeholders and consumers might lead to different conclusions regarding risk perception, benefit perception, acceptance and behaviour . For some potentially beneficial innovations, knowledge provision had proved successful to reduce risk perception and improve acceptability . However, innovative technologies and applications are not necessarily judged by weighing the risks and benefits and considering objective facts by either experts or lay‐people .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[31][32][33][34] For some potentially beneficial innovations, knowledge provision had proved successful to reduce risk perception and improve acceptability. 35,36 However, innovative technologies and applications are not necessarily judged by weighing the risks and benefits and considering objective facts by either experts or lay-people. 37 Frequently, risk judgements and decisions are influenced by previous experiences, effects or other readily available factors to reduce cognitive load.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological factors that determine people's willingness‐to‐share genetic data for research

Bearth

Siegrist

2019

Clinical Genetics

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Of all the information that we share, health and genetic data might be among the most valuable for researchers. As data are handled as particularly sensitive information, a number of pressing issues regarding people's preferences and privacy concerns are raised. The goal of the present study was to contribute to an understanding of people's reported willingness‐to‐share genetic data for science (WTS). For this, predictive psychological factors (eg, risk and benefit perceptions, trust, knowledge) were investigated in an online survey (N = 416). Overall, participants seemed willing to provide their genetic data for research. Participants who perceived more benefits associated with data sharing were particularly willing to share their data for research (β = .29), while risk perceptions were less influential (β = −.14). As participants with higher knowledge of the potential uses of genetic data for research perceived more benefits (β = .20), WTS can likely be improved by providing people with information regarding the usefulness of genetic data for research. In addition to knowledge and perceptions, trust in data recipients increased people's willingness‐to‐share directly (β = .24). Especially in the sensitive area of genetic data, future research should strive to understand people's shifting perceptions and preferences.

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“…An experimental group was shown a short video about results of a scientific assessment that focused on health risks related to food safety (natural and artificial food additives). After having seen the video, consumers from the experimental group had authentically better awareness, more positive attitudes towards food products and lower anxiety than consumers from the reference group [25].…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

Strategy and tactics for building up efficient risk-communications in the sphere of food products safety

May¹,

Lebedeva-Nesevrya²,

Barg³

2018

Health Risk Analysis

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The authors highlight that contemporary social and economic processes require development of a new paradigm for discussing human health risks caused by food products distribution (risk-communications). Today such a model is replaced with a "prototype" of risk-communication, or simple informing. And as there is no "feedback" from risk recipients, it is impossible to adequately adjust information flows or assess their efficiency. Consequently, risks tend to be underestimated or aggravated by consumers. Working our decisions on managing risks and plans how to implement them are to be solved jointly by experts, authorities, and population.It is shown that there are some basic ways to build up an efficient risk-communications system in the sphere of food products safety; to do that, we need to achieve greater information activity and interest of population in issues related to products quality and safety; to form a stable attitude towards self-preserving behavior among people; to improve a state system for interaction between all the concerned parties on issues related to population health and food products safety. It is extremely important to fully use channels for information dissemination that are in demand by a target audience (for example, active application of social media) and to created conditions for public discussions about risks. Tactical tasks are methodical guidance on forms and means of providing information about health risks as they are to be relevant for a target audience. Expert community involvement into a constructive risk dialogue is a significant tool for increasing riskcommunications efficiency. As population tends to trust scientists, experts, and doctors more than public persons, representatives from these expert groups are to play a significant social role in a system of efficient risk-communications.

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“The Dose Makes the Poison”: Informing Consumers About the Scientific Risk Assessment of Food Additives

Cited by 41 publications

References 34 publications

“Chemophobia” Today: Consumers’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Chemicals

“Chemophobia” Today: Consumers’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Chemicals

Psychological factors that determine people's willingness‐to‐share genetic data for research

Strategy and tactics for building up efficient risk-communications in the sphere of food products safety

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