Food scares and sustainability: A consumer perspective

Abstract

Health campaigns have focused on lifestyle decisions such as physical inactivity, diet and smoking to minimise health risks. The links between health, environmental sustainability and consumer food choices have less prominence. Reported here are Australian consumer perceptions of environmental health issues related to the food system. Interviews with 26 participants explored the environmental implications of food choices. Concerns included conflicting information, related health risks, and the blaming of individuals for ‘poor’ choices. Participants recognised that focussing on the individual overlooked the structural context of food production. They requested information about food production processes to assist decision-making and identified the need for an influential body to advocate for their interests in food production decisions. The results indicate a need for government, industry and consumer collaboration to develop and implement practical communication strategies about food production for communities.

Keywords:

• Food choice
• environment
• risk
• safety
• health