2002 - 2004 Contract No QLK1-CT-2001-00291 1 A European Research Project on Social and Institutional Conditions for the Production of Trust Consumer Trust in Food

The food supplied in Western European countries is safe as never before. That, at least, is the opinion of many food experts. But consumers seem to disagree. They are uncertain about the quality and safety of food. Such a contrast in opinion represents a major challenge for food policies and food markets at both national and pan-European levels. Our knowledge to date, however, indicates that levels of trust in food, and the sources in whom trust is placed, vary considerably across European member states. Recent food safety ‘scandals’ such as BSE, explain only some, but not all, of these variations. Introduction In order to understand trust and distrust in food in the context of the continuing European unification, the study will consider the historical and institutional differences between countries together with the way such differences shape the very understan- ding and experience of trust and distrust among consumers. The study makes the assumption that both trust and distrust are routine and necessary social phenomena, thus paving the way for examining whether distrust contributes to the production - i.e. re-establishment - of trust.

The overall aim of the study is to investigate the social and institutional conditions for the production and maintenance of consumer trust in food. The study seeks to identify and analyse factors that shape trust in the food supply and in information sources. These factors include the roles of public authorities, consumer organisations, market actors, consumers, NGOs etc. Aims

The study will draw on perspectives from political science, sociology and expertise in dietary habits and nutrition. The analysis will integrate data from (1) a representative survey about how consumers handle chal- lenges of trust and distrust in the routines of everyday life, and (2) qualitative enquiry (documentary analysis, key informant Methods and Structure interviews) at various institutional levels (regional, national, EU) about the condi- tions for the production and maintenance of trust. A special focus on beef and tomatoes will more fully illuminate the relations bet- ween consumer trust and collective actors and institutions in the food system. The concept of trust Surveys in six countries Comparative analyses Institutional studies - countries, EU Strategies for trust Dissemination to stakeholders and the general public

A systematic, interdisciplinary analysis of the institutional bases of consumer trust and distrust in food provision in contemporary Europe. A thorough, comparative analysis of the effects of different institutional arrangements, country by country, which bear upon consumer trust and distrust in food. An analysis of the impact of European Union policies on countries with markedly different histories of regulation and of controversy. A policy-relevant appreciation of the role of citizens and consumer organisations in articu- lating the interests of consumers in the purpo- se of establishing a trustworthy European food system. A critical analysis of alternative strategies for handling trust and distrust in the food system. Expected achievements The research findings will form the basis for developing recommendations for handling consumer trust and distrust. These are intended to address the re- establishment of consumer trust and con- tribute to national and EC measures against food insecurity. Findings will also be relevant to commer- cial and other organisations to augment their understanding of, and response to, consumer views and reactions. Application

Responsible partners Unni Kjaernes (Coordinator) The National Institute for Consumer Research (SIFO) PO Box 4682, Nydalen N-0405 Oslo - Norway Email: unni.kjarnes@sifo.no Roberta Sassatelli Dipartimento di Discipline della Comunicazione Università di Bologna - Via Azzo Gardino, 23 I-40122 Bologna - Italy Email: r.sassatelli@uea.ac.uk Lotte Holm Royal Veterinary- and Agricultural University (KVL) Research Department of Human Nutrition (FHE) Rolighedsvej 30 DK 1958 Frederiksberg C-Denmark Email: lotte.holm@fhe.kvl.dk Alan Warde University of Manchester Centre for Research on Innovation and Competition (CRIC) Devonshire House - Oxford Road UK-Manchester M13 9QH - United Kingdom Email: Alan.Warde@man.ac.uk Pedro Graça The University of Porto Faculty of Nutrition (FCNAUP) Rua Dr. Roberto Frias P- 4200-465 Porto - Portugal Email: pedrograca@fcna.up.pt Corinna Willhöft Federal Research Centre for Nutrition (BFE) Institute of Nutritional Economics and Sociology Haid-und-Neu-Strasse 9 D-76131 Karlsruhe - Germany Email: corinna.willhoeft@bfe.uni-karlsruhe.de Participants The advisory group Anne Murcott Institute for the Study of Genetics, Biorisks and Society (IGBiS) The University of Nottingham Law & Social Sciences Building Nottingham NG7 2RD United Kingdom Jukka Gronow Department of Sociology University of Uppsala P.O. Box 821, SE-751 08 Uppsala Sweden Alan Scott Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, Institut für Soziologie Universitätsstr. 15, A - 6040 Innsbruck Austria Ministerium Ernährung und Ländlicher Raum Baden- Württemberg (MLR) Postfach 10 34 44, D-70029 Stuttgart Germany Statens næringsmiddeltilsyn (SNT) Postboks 8187 Dep, N-0034 Oslo Norway Agencia para a Qualidade e Seguranca Alimentar R. Elias Garcia 30, 2704-507 Venda Nova - Amadora Portugal Ministry of Economy Consumer Rights Protection Division Brivibas iela 55, Riga, LV-1519 Latvia Forbrugerrådet Fiolstræde 17, Postboks 2188, DK-1017 København K Denmark Coop Italia Direzione Qualità Via del Lavoro 6-8, I-40033 Casaleccio di Reno (BO) Italy Further information You are invited to visit the study’s website http://www.trustinfood.org and/or contact the Coordinator or other Partners directly. Dr. Achim Boenke · Scientific Officer European Commission, DG Research; Directorate E - Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food; Unit E.2 - Food Quality Official address: European Commission, B-1049 Brussels Tel: (+32-2)-2 96 07 56 (direct line), (+32-2)-2 99 11 11 (exchange) Fax:(+32-2)-2 96 43 22 Email: Achim.Boenke@cec.eu.int Internet:http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/ research/index_en.html This research project is supported by the European Commission, Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources Programme (QoL), Key Action 1 (KA1) on Food, Nutrition and Health.