In Germany, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) takes a survey every six months to know if the consumers are aware of the health risks and what concerns them the most, reveals a new study.
In the latest issue, it can again be seen that consumers often underestimate risks which are classified as health-relevant from the point of view of risk assessment, such as food hygiene at home. One new topic is the question of awareness of several pathogens in the food sector.
Salmonellosis
Poor hygienic practices during cooking or handling of food products can cause this distressing infection of the intestines leading to diarrhea, cramps and fever.
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‘Salmonella, antimicrobial resistance, genetically modified foods, and residues of plant protection products are still considered as the most greatest health risks among the German-speaking population.’
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"While most people have heard of Salmonella, only a minority has heard of Campylobacter," explains BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel."This is despite the fact that Campylobacter is by now the most common bacterial pathogen of intestinal infections in Germany".
The view of consumers that food in Germany is safe has hardly changed, while smoking, climate and environmental pollution, unhealthy or wrong diet and alcohol are still perceived as the greatest health risks.
![All You Need to Know About Foodborne Illnesses]( "All You Need to Know About Foodborne Illnesses")
Do you ignore mild stomach pains? Then beware you may face severe complications of foodborne illnesses that can be very difficult to treat later.
The BfR Consumer Monitor is an important consumer health protection tool. As a representative consumer survey, it gives an insight every six months as to how the German-speaking population perceives health risks. To do so, roughly 1,000 persons living in private households in Germany who are at least 14 years of age are interviewed by telephone on behalf of the BfR.
Each issue is structured in a similar way so that the results of the individual surveys can be compared with one another. The BfR Consumer Monitor is dedicated on the one hand to topics which receive a lot of public attention.
On the other hand it analyses questions which have not so much been the focus of attention but are also of relevance. One example is the new method of "genome editing" which specifically modifies genetic material.
The degree of trust in state structures of consumer health protection is also surveyed, as this can in turn influence the perception of risks.
The question concerning whether and to what extent public perception deviates from scientific estimations of health risks is of particular interest for the work of the BfR, as the Institute can then counteract false estimations or misunderstandings with communicative measures.
It is shown repeatedly that the general public is largely unaware of important consumer health protection topics, such as pyrrolizidine alkaloids in teas and honey, or wrongly classifies them as being of no concern, such as food hygiene in private households.
A new question in the latest Consumer Monitor concerned awareness of several pathogens in the food sector.
Accordingly, 95 percent of respondents know about Salmonella as opposed to only 22 percent who know about Campylobacter, even though the latter can also result in a foodborne disease known as campylobacteriosis.
In Germany, Campylobacter has by now become the most common bacterial pathogen to cause intestinal infections.
With regard to the topic of the release of aluminium from menu trays, two thirds of respondents are currently aware of it and slightly over one third are concerned about it. Toys, textiles and cosmetics are estimated to be safe by a greater percentage of consumers than in the previous survey.
Several consumer estimations have changed little compared to the last survey. The great majority of respondents continue to regard food in Germany as safe. When asked about the greatest health risks, most of the respondents still mention smoking, climate and environmental pollution, along with an unhealthy or wrong diet, followed by alcohol and unhealthy or contaminated foods.
When asked specifically about selected topics, Salmonella, genetically modified foods, antimicrobial resistance and residues of plant protection products head the list where awareness is concerned. These are also the four topics which cause concern among the majority of respondents.
Source: Eurekalert
All You Need to Know About Foodborne Illnesses
Do you ignore mild stomach pains? Then beware you may face severe complications of foodborne illnesses that can be very difficult to treat later.
Advertisement
The BfR Consumer Monitor is an important consumer health protection tool. As a representative consumer survey, it gives an insight every six months as to how the German-speaking population perceives health risks. To do so, roughly 1,000 persons living in private households in Germany who are at least 14 years of age are interviewed by telephone on behalf of the BfR.
Each issue is structured in a similar way so that the results of the individual surveys can be compared with one another. The BfR Consumer Monitor is dedicated on the one hand to topics which receive a lot of public attention.
On the other hand it analyses questions which have not so much been the focus of attention but are also of relevance. One example is the new method of "genome editing" which specifically modifies genetic material.
The degree of trust in state structures of consumer health protection is also surveyed, as this can in turn influence the perception of risks.
The question concerning whether and to what extent public perception deviates from scientific estimations of health risks is of particular interest for the work of the BfR, as the Institute can then counteract false estimations or misunderstandings with communicative measures.
It is shown repeatedly that the general public is largely unaware of important consumer health protection topics, such as pyrrolizidine alkaloids in teas and honey, or wrongly classifies them as being of no concern, such as food hygiene in private households.
A new question in the latest Consumer Monitor concerned awareness of several pathogens in the food sector.
Accordingly, 95 percent of respondents know about Salmonella as opposed to only 22 percent who know about Campylobacter, even though the latter can also result in a foodborne disease known as campylobacteriosis.
In Germany, Campylobacter has by now become the most common bacterial pathogen to cause intestinal infections.
With regard to the topic of the release of aluminium from menu trays, two thirds of respondents are currently aware of it and slightly over one third are concerned about it. Toys, textiles and cosmetics are estimated to be safe by a greater percentage of consumers than in the previous survey.
Several consumer estimations have changed little compared to the last survey. The great majority of respondents continue to regard food in Germany as safe. When asked about the greatest health risks, most of the respondents still mention smoking, climate and environmental pollution, along with an unhealthy or wrong diet, followed by alcohol and unhealthy or contaminated foods.
When asked specifically about selected topics, Salmonella, genetically modified foods, antimicrobial resistance and residues of plant protection products head the list where awareness is concerned. These are also the four topics which cause concern among the majority of respondents.
Source: Eurekalert
Fact Sheet on Food Poisoning
Consuming foods that have been contaminated with pathogens such as E.coli, Salmonella or Campylobacter, can cause food poisoning.
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 New Salmonella Test Gives Accurate ResultsA new Salmonella test developed aids in detecting the bacteria from environmental and clinical samples accurately and is one of the leading causes of food-borne illness | Advertisement
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