Risky food and water? Health and environmental knowledge and information-seeking in Australia

Despite the centrality of health to collective well-being, many people fail to heed, or critically question, human or environmental health advice. Our research explores individual knowledge of key issues targeted by government health campaigns and policy guidelines for risks faced daily through food and water consumption and documents information sources participants used for air, water, environment, and health risk/quality advice. Findings challenge stereotypical assumptions that higher-educated individuals have high health and environmental literacy. Despite many holding general and advanced degrees, variation and illiteracy emerged regarding awareness of daily recommended dietary guidelines, with limited awareness of daily recommendations for fruit and vegetables and varied knowledge about fried food, dairy, and red meat consumption. While many knew treating tank or river water is required before consumption, several were unaware of the associated risks. The Internet and television constituted participants’ key information sources for all issues examined. Given the high cost, negative effects, and risks (including death) from poor diet and exposure to microbiologically-contaminated water, we argue new ways of communicating health and environmental risk factors are required that a) bypass political, economic, and corporatist interests; b) engender critical knowledge consumption; and c) incorporate demographically-relevant strategies and campaigns reflecting individualistic and group practices/preferences.