Research  and  Writing  on  Risk  and  Safety  Policy

Welcome to the Home Page

There is comment and videos on aspects of risk and safety policy together with resources on business education.

Glossary and External Links

There are definitions pages which provides a glossary of terms on food policy and BSE or CJD.  

There is also access to other websites for further research.  

Access to Other Subjects

The website covers themes in food policy such as nutrition; it also looks at safety decision-making including transport safety.

About the Website Author

The website author is Christopher Packham who is a writer based in North East England.  He studied Business Studies and Economics at Cardiff, Newcastle and Sunderland Universities.  

Justice for Andy

Christopher has been working with Christine Lord whose son Andrew died of variant CJD in 2007. Christine helped to make an award-winning BBC TV  documentary.  She has produced a website which is a plea for accountability over BSE and vCJD and has appeared at a parliamentary committee.  She has also discussed her work on the BBC and Talk Radio.

The Approach of the Website

This website takes a circumspect approach.  This is because evidence, in this area, can be scarce and theories can be weak.  But some theories are interesting and for that reason they should not be dismissed.  For example, there is an interesting theory on the origins of BSE from 2005.

Food Safety Policy Needs to be About More than Risk and Safety

There needs to be a discussion which is broader than merely a discussion of risk and safety.  Ministers and policy makers need to consider fundamental concerns over transparency and accountability in the food system. The public has to become more involved in decision-making and an equal partner with government in making decisions.

Transparency and Accountability

In terms of transparency, the public needs access to parts of the food chain which remain hidden, such as abattoirs.  The public also needs access to research laboratories where food testing is undertaken.  Industry needs to allow access and consumer involvement.  It should allow this admittance so that it can deal with 'urban food consumers' and their disconnection from how food is produced.  The food system needs to be accountable to the public.  Citizen's juries representing public interests, could decide which parts of the food system are allowed to operate and how they operate.  The public would then be setting standards for the industry.  This would include setting standards for research laboratories.  It is difficult to consider how the public should inform and help determine policy in practice.  However, previous ministerial statements and policy have not fully dealt with public concerns.

A Disclaimer

Effort has been made to make sure of the accuracy of the information. However, no liability is accepted for any errors. For more detailed work, readers are advised to use google scholar.  This website is a place for raising ideas; it is not a source of medical advice. 

Comments or Suggestions for the Website

I can be contacted through LinkedIn at Chris Packham.