Consumer Trust in Food Safety Requires Information Transparency

  • Tri Khai Lam UQ Business School University of Queensland http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6999-933X
  • Jon Heales UQ Business School University of Queensland
  • Nicole Hartley UQ Business School University of Queensland
  • Chris Hodkinson UQ Business School University of Queensland
Keywords: Tracing systems, social media, consumer trust

Abstract

This paper proposes a conceptual model to understand how information transparency matters can support consumer trust in food safety. Beside food labels, food product information can be disseminated by the support of technologies including traceability systems and social media. This article studies extant literature to provide a knowledge base for the development of a conceptual model. Information provided by traceability systems is deemed to increase a consumer’s knowledge of a food product. Furthermore, social media is considered as a well-informed source that provides some useful information to consumers. Therefore, we argue that technology-supported information supports and enhances the information consumers need to make their own judgement about the safety of a food product. Three testable propositions are developed from a conceptual model that provides insights into food information that consumers find helpful for developing trust in food safety.

Published
2020-05-11
How to Cite
Lam, T. K., Heales, J., Hartley, N., & Hodkinson, C. (2020). Consumer Trust in Food Safety Requires Information Transparency. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 24. https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v24i0.2219
Section
Selected Papers from the Australasian Conference on Information Systems (ACIS)