Abstract

International trade of processed food is increasing and the safety of this food could be improved with greater international cooperation. A survey of consumers in six developed countries asked about the perceived responsibility of government for improving traditional food safety (i.e., natural and accidental contamination) and reducing food defense risks (i.e., deliberate contamination). Subjects were also asked about processor and manufacturer responsibilities and about how the costs should be allocated between processors and manufacturers and government. Considerable variation was noted between the countries, which may limit the political support for international food safety initiatives. Demographics, country dummy variables, Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, and Minkov’s cultural dimensions were tested to explain the variations and could account for some of the differences. Compared with the US, the other countries were less willing to allocate a significant portion of food safety or food defense expenses to the government. Processors and manufacturers may need to promote their food safety efforts in countries where they are expected to be more responsible than government. Enhancing their efforts and adjusting their marketing messages about food safety by country could help food producers enhance their reputations and improve the safety of the world food supply.

摘要

加工食品的国际贸易正在增加，通过加强国际合作可以提高这种食品的安全性。一项针对六个发达国家消费者的调查询问了政府在改善传统食品安全（即自然和意外污染）和降低食品防护风险（即故意污染）方面的责任。受试者还被问及处理器和制造商的责任，以及如何在处理器、制造商和政府之间分配成本。注意到各国之间存在相当大的差异，这可能会限制对国际食品安全倡议的政治支持。人口统计、国家虚拟变量、霍夫斯泰德的文化维度、并测试了 Minkov 的文化维度来解释这些差异，并可以解释一些差异。与美国相比，其他国家不太愿意将很大一部分食品安全或食品防卫费用分配给政府。加工商和制造商可能需要在他们比政府更负责任的国家推广他们的食品安全工作。加强努力并按国家调整有关食品安全的营销信息，可以帮助食品生产商提高声誉并改善世界食品供应的安全性。加工商和制造商可能需要在他们比政府更负责任的国家推广他们的食品安全工作。加强努力并按国家调整有关食品安全的营销信息，可以帮助食品生产商提高声誉并改善世界食品供应的安全性。加工商和制造商可能需要在他们比政府更负责任的国家推广他们的食品安全工作。加强努力并按国家调整有关食品安全的营销信息，可以帮助食品生产商提高声誉并改善世界食品供应的安全性。