Confronting Views of Companies and Authorities on Food Safety Issues-A Cross-Country Survey.

This study investigated food safety issues as perceived by food companies and food safety authorities in six countries in Europe and Central Asia. A total of 66 companies and 16 authorities participated in the survey. The results provide important insights related to what the main food safety priorities are, how they are addressed in the countries that participated in the survey, and what the role of the main stakeholders is in the food value chain. Almost 50% of food companies identified 'food fraud' as the most influential food safety attribute. One-third of food safety authorities recognized 'food safety management system' as the most influential food safety attribute. Principal component analysis separated food safety statements into two dimensions named 'food safety hazards and risks' and 'food safety system'. Although there are slight differences in food safety statements between the two stakeholders, i.e., food companies and food safety authorities, it is the country of origin that plays a more important role in understanding their views. Food companies will need to implement a systemic approach and transform the entire food value chain continuum while considering new food safety challenges. It is expected that food safety authorities will have to play a more proactive role in the future.

Eurasian consumers' food safety beliefs and trust issues in the age of COVID-19: evidence from an online survey in 15 countries.

BACKGROUND: This investigation provides an important insight into Eurasian consumers' food safety beliefs and trust issues influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was conducted in 15 European and Asian countries involving more than 4000 consumers. RESULTS: It has confirmed that different socioeconomic characteristics, cultural aspects and education levels shape food safety perceptions within Eurasian countries. The COVID-19 pandemic influenced their beliefs and trust in food safety, which is relatively low on average. However, it is significantly higher for European consumers (especially European Union ones) compared to their Asian counterparts. Both Asian and European respondents agreed that food fraud and climate changes represent a food safety issue. However, European consumers were less concerned regarding the food safety of genetically modified foods and meat and dairy analogs/hybrids. Asian consumers were, to a greater extent, worried about the risk of getting COVID-19 from food, restaurants, food retail establishments and home food deliveries. CONCLUSION: Eurasian consumers have put their greatest extent of trust, when food safety assurance is concerned, into food scientists and food producers holding a food safety certificate. Broadly, they are uncertain to what extent their federal governments and food inspectors are competent, able and efficient in ensuring food safety. Higher education of Eurasian consumers was followed by increased food safety confidence in all parts of the food chain. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The impact of COVID-19 on the small and medium dairy farms and comparative analysis of customers' behavior in Armenia.

The restrictions caused by the pandemic of COVID-19 have affected almost all economic sectors of different countries, including agriculture. At the global level of quarantine and lockdowns, the whole humanity has been faced with various problems, food insecurity being one of them. The current research aims to study the effect of the restraints imposed in Armenia upon COVID-19, in 2020 on the activities of small and medium dairy farms and to compare the retrieved data with those of pre-pandemic period. The study period covered March-August, 2020, when the most severe restrictions were working in Armenia, while the indicators were compared with the data of 2019 for the same period. Meanwhile, the changes of the customer behavior from the prospect of milk and dairy product purchase throughout the restriction period have been disclosed and their incentives have been enhanced. The investigations testify that in Armenia the milk production and sale prices haven't undergone any significant changes within the restriction period, which is mainly accounted for internal market sale and short run of severe restrictions. Considerable change has been recorded in the customer behavior, particularly in the first month after declaring state of emergency. An increase in the purchase rate of milk and dairy product per one-time buy, as well as a decrease in the visit frequency to the shops and supermarkets have been recorded.