Adrienne Dockrel who contributed to data collection for Study 2 and Professor Andrew Fearne who contributed to discussions about the comparison of Study 1 and Study 2.
Abstract
PurposeThis international comparison study compares the perspectives of actors who contribute to trust in the food system in four high income countries which have diverse food incident histories: Australia, New Zealand (NZ), the United Kingdom (UK) and the Island of Ireland (IOI), focusing on their communication with the public, and their approach to food system interrelationships.
ApproachData were collected in two separate studies; the first in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (Study 1), and the second on the Island of Ireland (Study 2). In-depth interviews were conducted with media, food industry and food regulatory actors across the four regions (n=105 Study 1; n=50 Study 2). Analysis focused on identifying similarities and differences in the perspectives of actors from the four regions regarding the key themes of communication with the public, and relationships between media, industry and regulators.
FindingsWhile there were many similarities in the way food system actors from the four regions discussed (re)building trust in the context of a food incident, their perceptions differed in a number of critical 4 ways regarding food system actor use of social media, and the attitudes and approaches towards relationships between food system actors.
OriginalityThis paper outlines opportunities for the regions studied to learn from each other when looking for practical strategies to maximise consumer trust in the food system, particularly relating to the use of social media and attitudes toward role definition in industry-regulator relationships.