Mercury advisories: Information, education, and fish consumption

Jay Shimshack, Michael Ward, Timothy Beatty

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    Abstract

    This paper examines responses to a US national FDA advisory that urged at-risk individuals to limit store-bought fish consumption due to the dangers of methyl-mercury. We investigate consumer response using both parametric and nonparametric methods. Some targeted consumers significantly reduced canned fish purchases as a result of the advisory, suggesting that information-based policies can achieve the issuing agency's goals. Education and newspaper readership were important determinants of response, suggesting that information acquisition and assimilation are key factors for risk avoidance. While some groups reduced consumption as a result of the advisory, we do not find a response among the relatively large group of at-risk households which met neither the education nor readership criteria. The advisory also had unintended spillover effects; some consumers not considered at-risk reduced consumption in response to the advisory.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)158-179
    JournalJournal of Environmental Economics and Management
    Volume53
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2007

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Mercury advisories: Information, education, and fish consumption'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this