Food Safety Awareness and Its Impact on the Behavior of Consumers in the Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract

Consumer’s perceptions of food safety hazards are shaped by a complex process involving psychological, social, and economic factors. The determinant of risk perception is a topic that has been largely ignored in previous studies. In this study, we focus on several factors affecting the risk perception of food, especially those related to the differences among consumers' living regions. The results show that the level of education affects consumers' perception of food insecurity risks in suburban areas. The trust of consumers residing in the periphery of the food market agents influences risk perception. In contrast, people living in the downtown area trust all organizations to assess the risks of their everyday food consumption.