The aim of this study was to contribute to the development of an effective food risk communication strategy targeting young people. This research was based on a baseline understanding of young people’s knowledge of food related issues, their beliefs, as well as their dietary behaviour, to clarify the various potential obstacles to long-term healthy eating and factors affecting the reception of food risk communications. This two year study (2003-2005) involved a total of 5000 adolescents aged 12-17 sampled from over 80 schools across Ireland.

Researchers observed that although adolescents are aware of expert opinions about the benefits and risks of dietary behaviour (in particular, health risks linked to over consumption of certain foods), this does not necessarily translate into healthier eating behaviour. Taste and other sensory qualities were the key determinants of food choice. Many adolescents have an oversimplified understanding of food (in particular  tasty energy dense foods are often perceived as inherently bad, and there is a low understanding that all foods are acceptable as part of a well-balanced diet): it may represent a barrier to healthy eating and leads them to appraise rather negatively their own dietary habits. Concerns about obesity seem to lead some adolescents to select foods for their benefit in weight control rather than their nutritional value.

The authors observed different levels of knowledge of food risks among adolescents, but this understanding did not appear to play a key role in their dietary behaviour. Adolescents make allowances for a range of information sources (parental and peer opinion as well as their own first, followed by the media) and they actively interpret new information against the background of their previous knowledge. Young people appeared accustomed to the concept of uncertainty and controversy around food risks. They displayed different opinions about various food risks and the threats that expert uncertainty may constitute. Finally, authors stressed that messages conveying uncertainty may be perceived in the same manner as communications of definite health risks.