Comparative examination of trust during times of a food scandal in Europe and Australia

Abstract

This study compared public confidence in truth-telling by food chain actors in selected EU countries where there have been a number of food safety problems, with consumers in Australia where there have been fewer food crises. A computer-assisted telephone interviewing survey was used to address aspects of truth-telling at times of a food scandal with a random sample of 1109 participants across all Australian states (response rate 41.2%). Results were compared with a survey in six EU countries which had asked similar questions. Australians' trust in truth-telling by food chain actors was low, with 14.2% of the sample expecting various institutions and individuals to tell the whole truth during times of a food scandal. When compared with EU countries, Australia occupied a middle position in trust distribution, and was more similar to Great Britain in giving farmers the most trust in truth-telling. This study has demonstrated that in Australia, as in many EU countries, trust in truth-telling at a time of food scandal is low. The credibility of the food system is highly vulnerable under times of food crisis and once trust in broken, it is difficult to restore.