ABSTRACT
Food safety policy may carry the connotation of a dry and expert-run specialisation, but under this technocratic veneer many a battle between policy-makers, scientists, consumers and traders takes place. Food safety rules aspire to safeguard consumers against harm. They serve to protect human life and health. But food safety regulations require agreement on what exactly is harmful. The results of scientific inquiry are widely used to determine policy, but research is not without problems. Science is not always clear, and findings take time to verify conclusively. Even if the science is convincing, it might clash with consumer perceptions of safety. There are numerous examples of consumers being sceptical of established views (as with genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, for example) and these citizens demand from politicians that they show understanding. As a result, the desire not only to be safe but also to feel safe will have an impact on political decision-making. 3
