Corporate social responsibility and food risk management in China; a management perspective

• Published in: Food control Vol. 49; pp. 2 - 10
• Main Authors: Zhang, Dongyong, Gao, Yuan, Morse, Stephen
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2015; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; China; Corporate social responsibility; Food industries; Food risk management; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Hygiene and safety; Asia; China; Food risk management; Corporate social responsibility; China; Perspective; Risk; Management; Food
• ISSN: 0956-7135; 1873-7129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.01.030

This study aims to find relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and food risk management (FRM), and other affecting factors of FRM in China. This is considered from the perspective of food company managers located in 161 food companies surveyed in Henan Province and Wuhan City, China. The results indicate that the company's attitude (defensive/passive/proactive) to CSR affects its attitude to food risks, and the CSR performance of a company affects the effectiveness of its FRM measures. With better CSR performance, a company experiences less risk than the ones with poor CSR performance. Among other FRM affecting factors, the budget allocated to FRM is the direct affecting factor, and the manager's perceived importance of FRM for improving organizational behaviour is causal to both the best and poor FRM practices. Finally policy suggestions are made.