International Case Studies of Psychosocial Ripple Effects of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in European Countries

Abstract

The public is increasingly concerned about risks associated with food. Food-borne diseases can easily mobilize public concerns and create strong emotional, behavioral, and political reactions with significant negative economic and psychosocial outcomes. This was observed in various countries globally experiencing the presence of prion disease bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). This study highlights case-study material from various countries for key psychosocial impacts such as the public's worry and fear vis-à-vis beef consumption and the loss of confidence and trust in authorities stemming from the occurrence and management of the BSE crisis. These psychosocial impacts and resultant public behavioral responses are presented at a number of levels including individual, family, community, and societal for several European countries, with special emphasis on the UK case study. Given failures to identify the scope of individual concern about prion diseases, and to address these concerns in decision-making processes and risk communication strategies, there remains a need for further systematic research and psychosocial monitoring of the ripple effects of BSE.

Acknowledgements

This project was funded by PrioNet Canada, NCE, and leveraged with in-kind contributions by the Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear (CBRN) Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI) Project CRTI02–0080RD, the McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. D. Krewski is the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Chair in Risk Science at the University of Ottawa.