Food Protection Trends - May/June 2024 - 220

GENERAL SESSIONS
IVAN PARKIN LECTURE
LAWRENCE GOODRIDGE
Digesting Truth: Navigating Food Safety
Education in the Age of Misinformation
In the era of instant information and widespread social media, the landscape
of food safety education faces unprecedented challenges. For example,
misinformation, or false information shared without harmful intent, and
disinformation, deliberately spread to deceive, both erode the foundation of
evidence-based decision-making. In the realm of science, where complexity
and uncertainty are inherent, these practices exploit gaps in public knowledge
and understanding, leading to skewed perceptions of risk, the adoption of
pseudoscientific beliefs, and resistance to scientific consensus on critical issues
like climate change, vaccination, and public health guidelines.
The rapid proliferation of such information through social media and digital
platforms magnifies these challenges, allowing falsehoods to spread at
unprecedented speed and scale. Combatting these forces requires concerted
efforts not only to improve scientific literacy and critical thinking skills among
the general public but also to develop more effective communication strategies
that can bridge the gap between complex scientific information and accessible,
actionable knowledge for the broader population.
This presentation will commence with an exploration of the current state of food
safety misinformation, identifying several pervasive myths and the mechanisms
by which they spread across digital platforms. By examining case studies, we
will shed light on the impact of these falsehoods on consumer behavior and
public health. Central to the discussion will be innovative strategies for food
safety professionals to effectively communicate scientific truths. This includes
leveraging new technologies and social media platforms to disseminate accurate
information, as well as engaging with online communities to foster a culture of
critical thinking and informed decision-making. Furthermore, the lecture will
emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among academics,
government, and industry professionals in combating misinformation and
disinformation. By uniting experts in food science, psychology, technology, and
communication, we can develop more effective methods for educating the public
and advocating for evidence-based practices.
The lecture will conclude with a call to action for food safety professionals,
educators, and communicators to take a proactive stance against misinformation
and disinformation. Through collective efforts, we can enhance the public's ability
to " digest truth, " ensuring a safer and more informed society on the topic of food
safety and science in general.
JOHN H. SILLIKER LECTURE
ROBERT BRACKETT
The Future of Food Safety: Future Shock?
Over the past half century, food safety has made great strides, thanks in large part
to technological and analytical advancements. During this same 50+ year timeframe,
we have also experienced major and rapid changes in other areas of life. We have
experienced major changes in society, including the expansion of social media,
communications, entertainment, laws and regulations, business and education,
technology, and analytical capability. While one may at first not be able to see the
connection between these changes and food safety, they have in fact impacted food
safety, both in terms of benefitting but also hindering the advancements in food
safety. So, what specifically are these changes that we've seen and how are they
related to food - and in particular food safety? Some examples of rapid changes that
affect food safety follow.
One of the most impactful changes which we need to consider is social change and,
specifically, the role of social media. On one hand, social media has enabled food
safety professionals to connect and interact with both existing and new colleagues
in ways never before possible. This has allowed individuals to more quickly share and
adopt new information. On the other hand, social media has also enabled more rapid
dissemination of misinformation and food safety myths. Consequently, there is a need
going forward to think more critically about the information to which one is subjected.
Another area in which rapid change is impacting food safety is technology, both digital
and analytical. The combination of a faster internet, molecular biochemical methods,
and automation has and will continue to enable us to identify foodborne pathogens
faster and more accurately than food safety professionals in the 1960s could have
possibly imagined. However, it is important not to lose focus on the basics and be
forever chasing the " next big thing " in food safety technologies. This will result in
students not acquiring essential basic food safety knowledge and food safety veterans
perpetually feeling like they are falling behind and can never catch up.
So, that leaves us to ask the question: How do we cope with rapid changes and not
leave food safety professionals and consumers behind? Perhaps we need a new
paradigm on how to communicate and execute 21st century food safety. If we are to
deal with rapid change, particularly as it applies to food safety, we must first recognize
that this can and likely will profoundly affect how people view food safety. The new
paradigm likewise demands changes in our most fundamental thinking on food safety.
We must find a way to adopt and understand the new, cutting-edge technologies while
at the same time not forgetting the basics that have been and will continue to be
foundational to food safety. This starts with educating future generations of scientists
and imparting an appreciation for the underpinnings of applied science, such as
microbiology, chemistry, and toxicology. With those basics as a foundation, advanced
technologies will become more meaningful and useful.
220 Food Protection Trends May/June

Food Protection Trends - May/June 2024

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