ABSTRACT
Discussion about the reporting of food risks is peppered with criticisms of the media, which are variously blamed for purveying the 'propaganda' of the food industry or the government, or promoting unhealthy foods. Alternatively, the media are alleged to damage sales, to be anti-business, a source of unwarranted scares and in the grip of the food 'fascists', 1 'terrorists' 2 or 'Leninists'. 3 In all cases the media are seen as irresponsible and sensationalist, either by uncritically allowing the nation's health to be damaged by the food industry or causing undue alarm by publicising the views of non-experts, pseudo-scientists and politically motivated pressure groups.
