Public Attitudes And Perceptions Of The Vulnerability Of The U.S Food Chain To Agroterrorism

This study uses results from marginal effects estimates across the foods and points of the food chain to rank the foods and food chain points in order of intensity of likelihood of a terrorist attack. The results show that young people, low incomers (<$35,000), those with medium to low knowledge about food chain and food safety, those skeptical about grocery abilities on food safety, and those with low education were likely to feel that certain foods are more likely to view likelihood of terrorist attacks possible. The results underscores the importance of consumer concerns about terrorist threats at the farm level, processing, grocery stores, or food transport calling for measures to secure such foods or segments of the food chain by all concerned. Notwithstanding, education and out reach efforts are critical in informing the public about agroterrorism, and the predisposing factors. For policy makers, the recurring persistent consumer perception vulnerability of the certain foods and points in food chain, points to the public concern of these areas as insecure, thereby direct disproportionate efforts secure such foods and points of the food chain.