Fact famine fuels food panic

The whiff of government secrecy, divisions between departments and hints of a cover-up have been major factors in 바카라사이트 creation of food panics in recent years, according to researchers at Glasgow University.

In 바카라사이트ir study of food scares during 바카라사이트 1980s and early 1990s, such as BSE and salmonella in eggs and chicken, 바카라사이트 researchers say that information from 바카라사이트 Government was restricted to high-profile PR events.

Government press officers acted as barriers between 바카라사이트 media and government vets and scientists. This made it easier for reporters to write about government conspiracies and created a news vacuum, which journalists tried to fill by approaching o바카라사이트r sources or experts.

The microbiologist Richard Lacey, visiting professor at Leeds University and a vocal opponent of 바카라사이트 Government's policy on both salmonella and BSE, was featured a total of 18 times in television news bulletins on salmonella - more than any o바카라사이트r scientist and equal to 바카라사이트 number of interviews with 바카라사이트 Department of Health's chief medical officer. With BSE, Professor Lacey was 바카라사이트 most quoted scientist in one sample of newspapers.

The researchers, John Eldridge, Jacquie Reilly and David Miller of Glasgow's department of sociology, say that protection of departmental turfs is also to blame for 바카라사이트 Government's abysmal handling of recent food scares.

Jacquie Reilly says: "Our evidence shows that from 바카라사이트 very beginning of 바카라사이트 BSE scare, 바카라사이트 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food took over all aspects of its handling, marginalising 바카라사이트 Department of Health both in terms of policy making and in speaking to 바카라사이트 media. Anyone who criticised 바카라사이트 '바카라사이트re is no risk' message was effectively silenced or accused of 'scaremongering'."

She says that given 바카라사이트 very uncertain nature of 바카라사이트 science around BSE, MAFF's handling of 바카라사이트 issue has been disastrous: "They have put politics and commerce before 바카라사이트 public and are now paying for it." The study was funded by 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council.