Food Safety and Risk Perception of Consumers in the Middle East and North African Region

Developing countries including the Middle East and North African (MENA) region are expected to be at higher risk of foodborne diseases for various reasons, which are a huge burden on public health and the countries’ economic development. Consumer food safety and risk perception have an important role in preventing these diseases because of how consumers perceive the risk associated with food. These then affect consumer choices, including willingness to buy, handle and consume safe food. Consumers have the power to demand safe food and influence suppliers and policymakers to deliver safe food across the supply chain. The different perceptions and their characteristics have been evaluated for many developing countries. Despite its importance, research about this subject is scarce in the MENA region. Some countries like Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Iran and KSA have highlighted that knowledge is a main factor affecting consumer perception. Nevertheless, the type of food, eating in restaurants, and food packaging, among other factors, influence the perception and can change the safety practices, awareness, attitude and behavior. As the perception is built on human subjectivity and dictates a person’s preferences and choices, more efforts should be made shape the food safety understanding of the consumer and to build that perception on a solid scientific base to lead to an appropriate public response, i.e., consistent with science, towards food safety.