Communicating chemical risk in food to adolescents. A comparison of web and print media

The study addressed the communication of chemical risks in food to adolescents with a view to evaluating the potential, the effectiveness and the limitations of web- and paper-based tools. The tools were developed through a participatory process based on the active involvement of the target group. The method used to convey the communication message was storytelling. le of 327 students living in north-eastern Italy evaluated the tools through two questionnaires. An assessment was made of the toolsʹ effectiveness in transmitting knowledge, changing perceptions of chemical risks and arousing studentsʹ interest. Results showed that perception of chemical risks and scientific knowledge increased significantly among participants following exposure to both communication tools, but the paper-based tool was the preferred medium. gital tool exhibited comparable effectiveness to the paper tool in terms of improving learning and changing risk perception, making it a valuable tool in the design of risk-prevention campaigns. However, the paper-based tool met higher approval, suggesting that further studies are needed in Italy to better understand young peopleʹs preferences in media usage and the correlations between approval, learning and changes in behaviours.