Will Food Safety Incidents Stimulate the Public’s Desire for Food Safety Governance?

This paper, grounded in the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model and event system theory, examines the mechanisms through which public recognition-specifically novel, disruptive, and critical recognition-of the intensity of food safety incidents influences willingness to engage in food safety governance. Risk perception is identified as a mediating variable, while risk communication serves as a moderating variable. Based on survey data, the study found that various forms of public recognition significantly impact governance willingness. Furthermore, risk perception plays a crucial mediating role, and risk communication has a notable moderating effect on the relationship between risk perception and food safety governance willingness. These findings illuminate the intrinsic connection between public recognition of food safety incidents and governance willingness, offering robust theoretical support and practical guidance for enhancing food safety governance. This research contributes to the ongoing improvement and optimization of food safety governance systems.