Competence of Public Institutions in Food Safety Control: A Consumer Perception Survey in Ghana

Background: Ensuring food safety and minimizing risks require coordinated efforts of various institutions. The objective of this study was to determine how Ghanaian consumers score the competence of public institutions in controlling food safety risks and the effects of this perceived score on their level of concerns about food safety risks. Methods: Totally, semi-structured questionnaire administered to 444 Ghanaian consumers in 2017. Public perception of the competence of food safety institutions was assessed by asking a set of questions in addressing each food safety issues. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: The highest and lowest mean scores were 2.81±1.198 and 2.41±1.218, respectively for consumer perception of public institutions’ competence in ensuring food safety, in the range of 1-5 where 1 represents very poor and 5 represents excellent. Also, the mean score for the degree of public concern was ranged from 1.46±0.776 to 2.32±1.248 about various food safety hazards and risks on a scale of 1-5, where 1 represents ‘extremely worried’, and 5 represents ‘not at all worried’. Conclusion: Consumer perception of public institutions’ competence was below average in ensuring food safety people, showing an unsatisfied situation. For certain specific food safety hazards and risks, consumer perception about the competence level of public institutions affected their degree of worry about those risks.