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Health Education Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, 535-543, 1990
© 1990 Oxford University Press

other

Food risk communication: lessons from the Alar controversy

M. Elaine Auld

International Food Information Council 1100 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 430, Washington, DC 20036, USA

The Alar controversy in 1989 was a watershed event in the current crisis of consumer confidence in American food safety. To help restore public confidence in food safety, scientists and policymakers are exploring improved ways of communicating with the public about food risks. This article reviews issues, concepts and strategies for food risk communication in the context of lessons from the Alar controversy. The process of effective food risk communication is often hampered by institutional and political factors such as scientific debates about nutritional findings, statutory inconsistencies related to food risk and fragmented federal responsibility for food safety. In addition, there are other barriers such as conflicting views of food safety risks, lack of credibility of some risk communicators and scientific illiteracy of the American public. Health and nutrition educators have valuable knowledge and skills that can facilitate the dialogue between risk managers and the public on food issues. Expertise in needs assessment, message development and dissemination, and program planning and research are especially valuable.


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