Consumer attitudes and knowledge about irradiated foods: a survey conducted in Natal, Brazil

Authors

  • André Luiz Barbosa de Lima Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal Author
  • Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli da Costa Oliveira Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Brasil Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3395/vd.v2n2.172

Keywords:

Food Irradiation, Food Security, Food Labeling

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the attitudes and knowledge of consumers about irradiated foods. The study sample corresponded to 65.52% women and the mean age was 41.82 (SD: 14.33) years. Only 66.9% of respondents consumers consult the list of ingredients on the label of packaged foods, and 13.4% of them said they had detected the phrase “FOOD TREATED BY IRRADIATION PROCESS.” Furthermore, 86.6% considered that irradiation becomes unsafe food and thus 94.9% of those not consume these foods, as well as 29.6% of those who felt otherwise. Women had a score of attitude towards irradiated foods less favorable than men. The television was considered the most efficient means of communication to report on irradiated foods. We conclude that consumers of the city of Natal lack information about food irradiation and acceptance of these products depends on how the policies are directed to food security and health education, including through the use of sources of mass information dissemination. The information on the labels of irradiated foods is controversial, although sufficient instruments for detection of irradiated foods by these consumers.

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Author Biographies

  • André Luiz Barbosa de Lima, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal
    Médico veterinário, formado pela Universidade Federal do Semi-árido (UFERSA) em 2004. Mestre em Saúde Coletiva pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). Desempenha suas atividades em Vigilância Sanitária desde 2005, na capital do Rio Grande do Norte.
  • Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli da Costa Oliveira, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Brasil
    Possui Graduação em Odontologia pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (1988), Mestrado em Odontologia Social pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (1993) e Doutorado em Odontologia Preventiva e Social pela Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (2000). Atualmente é professor Associado da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Tem experiência na área de Odontologia, com ênfase em Saúde Bucal Coletiva, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: Epidemiologia, Saúde Coletiva e Políticas Públicas de Saúde.

Published

2014-05-14

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Consumer attitudes and knowledge about irradiated foods: a survey conducted in Natal, Brazil. (2014). Health Surveillance under Debate: Society, Science & Technology , 2(2), 81-87. https://doi.org/10.3395/vd.v2n2.172