Pesticide Safety in Greek Plant Foods from the Consumer Perspective: The Importance of Reliable Information

Abstract

Greek consumers perceive an increased risk of pesticide residues in food. This study examined Greek consumers’ perceptions of the safety of Greek plant-based food compared to those from other EU countries. One-half of Greek consumers believe Greek food is as safe as other European foods, while the other half disagree. According to a principal component analysis and a bivariate logistic regression, several factors, such as the perceived safety of plant foods, education, age, gender, traceability, perceived benefits and risks of pesticides, actual pesticide use, and authoritative information sources, influence this attitude. Authoritative knowledge in this field can reduce risk perception and improve Greek consumers’ attitudes towards food safety. The latent class analysis identified two categories of consumers. The first class receives limited information about pesticides, leading to lower perceived pesticide benefits, higher mistrust of traceability, and concerns about pesticide residues. In contrast, the second class actively searches for information from credible sources, endorses the Greek plant foods safety, acknowledges the pesticide benefits, and trusts traceability. Official information is associated with reduced risk perception. Regulators should consider the impact of sociodemographic and other intrinsic characteristics on individuals’ risk perceptions and prioritise transparency in risk communication strategies.