Measuring consumers' awareness on food safety: The case of Siirt

This study aims to assess the food safety knowledge levels of consumers in Siirt province through a quantitative survey distributed online to individuals aged 18 and above. Multiple-choice questions were prepared based on the literature and included in the study. The survey consisted of two sections: demographic characteristics and food safety, with a total of 27 questions. The study included 401 participants, predominantly female (62,3%), with 97% completing the survey, 43,4% aged 25-34, and nearly half employed in the public sector. The responses showed variation, with 84,79% believing food safety begins with primary production and 58,45% trusting the internet and social media for information. Nearly half of the participants from Siirt believe food safety have declined over time, and 51,3% feel human health is neglected in food production and sales. Additionally, 52,7% of participants acknowledged the presence of risk factors at every stage of food production. While 69,6% reported that they complain when they encounter defective products, 42,2% of those who do not prefer the complaint method believe it would be ineffective. Notably, 79,1% of participants from Siirt were aware of the "Alo 174" food safety hotline, while 66,2% did not know the meaning of the term "Radura." Furthermore, 55,56% of participants from Siirt answered the traceability question correctly. The study analyzed responses with SPSS 2020 and applied a chi-square test to explore the relationship between food safety awareness and socioeconomic characteristics among Siirt consumers in 2023-2024.