Consumer Perceptions of Food Safety in Europe: A Systematic Review

Details

Supervisors

Charry, Karine

Faculty

Louvain School of Management

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur de gestion, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

Foodborne diseases increasingly threaten public health, with around 600 million people falling ill from contaminated food each year. This results in approximately 420,000 deaths and arises from over 200 types of foodborne infections, disproportionately impacting the poor and the young (WHO 2022). Despite having one of the safest food systems globally, European consumers continue to express concerns regarding the safety of their food. This paper explores the food safety landscape in Europe, focusing specifically on consumer knowledge, perception, and practices related to food safety. It attempts to identify socioeconomic factors (e.g. age, gender educational background) that shape these perceptions. Employing a systematic approach, this study selects and reviews publications from the past decade, using search terms like 'food safety', 'consumer perception', 'factors', and 'Europe'. The conclusions drawn from the systematic literature review are then enriched and either validated or challenged by insights gathered through a survey.