An appraisal of Consumers’ Perception of the Safety of Food in South -south and South – East of Nigeria.
CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Foodborne illnesses due to virulent strains of E. coli bacteria (such as E. coli O157:H7) have received public attention because they can cause serious health problems such as kidney failure and paralysis, or even death. Many human cases of E. coli infections have been traced to the consumption of contaminated beef products. Coordinated beef industry measures to reduce E. coli contamination have concentrated on post-harvest interventions such as hot steam pasteurization and irradiation, but they have not led to the desired reduction in human E. coli illnesses. A more holistic approach would embrace interventions that also tackle pre-harvest contamination (i.e., before slaughter). Vaccinating cattle against E. coli and the inclusion of direct-fed microbials (DFMs) in cattle feed are two pre-harvest food safety technologies/interventions that have recently been shown to be effective in reducing E.coli contamination in beef products, and consequently human cases of infections.1 Typical of new interventions in the food industry, varying consumer opinions about their safety influence consumer perceptions of them. In addition, their effectiveness in reducing human cases of E. coli suggests a potential role for government to be involved in regulating or mandating their use. Thus, understanding consumer perceptions and attitudes towards these pre-harvest interventions can be an important factor in potentially evaluating their market success.