Title: Concerns about unwholesome packaged food in Ghana: the case of Mampong municipality

Authors: Isaac Abunyuwah; Richard T. Awuah

Addresses: Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, College of Agriculture Education, University of Education Winneba, P.O. Box 40 Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana ' Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture Education, University of Education Winneba, P.O. Box 40 Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana

Abstract: Concerns about the flow of low quality and unwholesome packaged products into the Ghanaian food markets have triggered national discourse on effectiveness of food safety measures. Given the huge task involved and the complexity of the food distribution system, government and other stakeholders have increased their awareness campaigns through the mainstream media urging consumers to be vigilant. The study applies logistic model to analyse the demographic and socio-economic factors that explain consumers' levels of concerns about quality standards of packaged foods following the nationwide campaigns to draw implications on depth of awareness outreach of such campaigns. Levels of education, place of residence, access to food safety information and income levels statistically explain consumers concerns about food safety standards. This indicates that the poor and more deprived consumers are the most likely to suffer from unwholesome foods. These results imply that mainstream media campaigns are less effective in depth of outreach.

Keywords: food safety; awareness; unwholesomeness; logistic regression; unwholesome food; packaged food; Ghana; demographics; socio-economics; food quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFSNPH.2014.063501

International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health, 2014 Vol.5 No.1, pp.7 - 15

Received: 02 Dec 2011
Accepted: 08 May 2012

Published online: 30 Jul 2014 *

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