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Christopher Packham: Contributions to UK Food Safety and Risk Policy
Introduction
Christopher Packham (b. 1974, Newcastle upon Tyne) is a UK-based former teacher and researcher known for his work on food safety economics, risk policy, and public health. Holding a PhD from Newcastle University (2004), his research focuses on how the public values food safety and how such valuations can guide policy. He has also extended his knowledge to health and safety issues, notably Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and football-related dementia.
This report explores his academic and public contributions and analyses his influence on UK safety policy.
Context Box: What Is Risk Policy?
Risk policy refers to the strategies governments and organisations use to identify, manage, and communicate potential dangers, ranging from food safety to sports injuries, so that public health and safety are protected.
Academic Background and Research Contributions
Doctoral Research on Food Safety Economics
In his doctoral thesis, The Public’s Valuation of Food Safety: Can it Contribute to Policy? (2004), developed a demand–supply model of food safety addressing market failures such as:
Information asymmetry: Producers often know more about the safety of food than consumers do.
Externalities: Costs of unsafe food, such as illness and public health expenses, fall on society rather than producers.
Risk perception gaps: Public perceptions of risk often differ from expert assessments.
He used stated-preference (willingness-to-pay) surveys to measure public support for increased Food Standards Agency (FSA) spending on food safety.
Context Box: Stated Preference Surveys
These surveys ask people hypothetical questions like, “Would you pay £1 more each week if it reduced your chance of food poisoning by half?” They quantify how much people value goods not normally bought or sold, like safety or health.
Main Findings
Packham found that market forces alone were insufficient to achieve safety and that government intervention was needed to reduce risk. He concluded that cognitive biases, including the “part-whole bias”, affected how accurately the public could value food safety.
Public Engagement and Communication
Digital Outreach
Packham shares his research via his Google Sites page, Research and Writing on Risk and Safety Policy, and LinkedIn. He covers food safety, BSE, genetically modified foods, and sports-related injuries.
Translating Research for the Public
During events such as the 2013 horsemeat scandal, Packham highlighted regulatory gaps and the need for transparency. His explanations helped the public understand complex policy challenges.
Context Box: 2013 Horsemeat Scandal
Supermarkets in the UK were found to be selling beef products containing horsemeat, raising concerns about labelling, supply chains, and consumer trust.
Contributions to Food Safety Policy
Critique of Regulatory Frameworks
Packham has often criticised the UK’s reliance on industry self-regulation. During the horsemeat scandal, he noted that the FSA lacked the data needed to assess consumer exposure while supermarkets prioritised cost-cutting over safety.
Emphasis on Public Values
He consistently argues that food safety policy must balance expert risk assessment with public concerns. Participatory policy-making, he contends, recognises consumers as equal stakeholders.
Context Box: Why Public Values Matter
Ignoring public concerns can reduce trust and make policies less effective. Including citizens in decision-making makes sure that policy matches societal priorities.
Impact on BSE (Mad Cow Disease) Policy
Lessons from Historical Failures
Packham argued that UK authorities prioritised economic concerns over public health in managing BSE, adopting a reactive rather than precautionary approach.
Advocacy for a Second BSE Inquiry
He has called for a new inquiry with powers to investigate systemic failings and prevent future crises.
Collaboration with Justice for Andy Campaign
Packham works with campaigners, such as Christine Lord, whose son died of vCJD, supporting accountability and deeper investigation.
Context Box: What Was BSE?
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or “mad cow disease,” emerged in UK cattle in the 1980s. Eating infected beef was later linked to variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) in humans, a fatal brain disorder.
Contributions to Football, Heading, and Dementia
Evidence-Based Advocacy
Packham has used epidemiological and neuropathological studies to show that repeated heading in football increases long-term brain injury risk. He cites the FIELD study (University of Glasgow), which found professional players are over three times more likely to die from neurodegenerative diseases, and research showing even amateur players may accumulate harmful tau proteins linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Critique of Partial Reforms
Although UK football authorities have restricted heading in youth training and introduced concussion protocols, Packham critiques these as insufficient. They may be inconsistently applied and do not cover competitive matches, limiting their effectiveness.
Legal Action as a Catalyst for Reform
Packham suggests meaningful reform is unlikely without legal action. He highlights US cases in American football and advocates for placing player welfare on a legal footing to achieve permanent change.
Context Box: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
CTE is a brain condition caused by repeated head impacts, leading to memory loss, mood changes, and dementia-like symptoms. Evidence has been found in athletes across boxing, American football, and UK football.
Public Policy Impact
Packham has contributed to debates in both food safety and sports safety. His recommendations for youth-level heading bans and improved brain injury screening have helped influence public discussion, though institutional change has been slow. His interdisciplinary approach which combines economics, public health, and ethics offers a distinctive voice in UK safety policy.
Conclusion
Christopher Packham’s work shows the value of linking research with policy. His doctoral research highlighted the limits of relying on markets for food safety, while his analyses of BSE and football-related dementia emphasise the consequences of policy inaction. Through research, public engagement, and advocacy, Packham has influenced debates on risk, ethics, and citizen participation in UK safety policy.
References
Packham, C. (2004) The Public’s Valuation of Food Safety: Can it Contribute to Policy? PhD thesis, Newcastle University.
Packham, C. (n.d.) Research and Writing on Risk and Safety Policy. Available at: https://sites.google.com/site/foodsafetypolicy/
Derek Packham’s Contributions to Transport Psychology (Christopher Packham’s father)
Introduction
Derek Packham (1938–2022) was a British psychologist and academic whose work helped shape the field of transport psychology in the UK. A lecturer at Newcastle University from 1966 to 1996, Packham completed his PhD at Birkbeck (University of London) in 1968. His primary research interests included risk perception, driver safety, pedestrian safety, and the psychology of ageing concerning road use. He worked extensively with the Automobile Association (AA) Foundation for Road Safety Research and the Department of Transport during the 1980s and 1990s. He conducted pioneering studies that bridged academic research and public policy.
Driver Attitudes and Risk Perception
A central focus of Packham’s work was the psychology of driver attitudes and risk perception. He argued that crashes often stemmed from attitudes rather than lack of skill or road conditions (Packham et al., 1993). In collaboration with David Silcock, Packham analysed interviews and surveys of British motorists and identified two dominant types of aggressive drivers: thrill-seekers and habitual rule-breakers (Packham et al., 1993). These individuals often viewed driving as a competitive act, likening roads to a “jungle” where only the fittest survive (The Herald, 1994).
One key insight from Packham’s research was that drivers do not all interpret road conditions or hazards in the same way. His team observed that some drivers treat driving as a contest, accelerating when others do, overtaking to assert dominance, and ignoring signs or rules if they impeded their perceived progress (The Independent, 1993). These psychological patterns helped define early profiles of “road rage” drivers. In particular, young males who sought social approval through risk-taking behaviours (Packham et al., 1993).
Packham emphasised the need for tailored interventions. For young, aggressive drivers, educational programmes targeting attitude change were recommended. For other groups, physical infrastructure changes (like safer crossings or speed bumps) were seen as more effective (Packham et al., 1993).
Aggression, Frustration, and Risk-Taking
Packham contributed to a growing body of work showing how frustration behind the wheel can lead to aggression. He observed that traffic congestion, delays, and ambiguous road signage could increase stress, especially in drivers prone to impulsivity (The Independent, 1993). In such conditions, drivers often respond with overt aggression—tailgating, speeding, and risky manoeuvres—to reassert control or vent frustration (Packham et al., 1993).
This work had practical implications for traffic management and education. By highlighting that some individuals view the car as an extension of personal power, Packham helped frame road safety as a behavioural issue, not just a matter of vehicle design or traffic flow (Herald Scotland, 1994).
Safety of Older Road Users
Another major focus of Packham’s work was the safety of older road users. He co-authored Risk and Safety on the Roads: The Older Pedestrian (AA Foundation, 1995), a comprehensive study that used interviews, experiments, and field observations to understand the unique challenges faced by elderly pedestrians.
The study found that older people often misjudge vehicle speed and distance, particularly when crossing at complex or unfamiliar junctions. Age-related declines in perception, mobility, and confidence made certain crossing environments disproportionately hazardous for older adults (AA Foundation, 1995). The report recommended targeted measures, such as clearer road markings, extended crossing times, and public education campaigns.
In his earlier work with the AA Foundation, Packham also analysed older drivers. He noted that while older drivers generally had fewer accidents, they could still benefit from education on hazard perception and changing road conditions (Packham et al., 1993; Silcock et al., 1998). His research helped challenge stereotypes of older drivers as inherently dangerous and instead called for nuanced understanding and support.
Applied Work and Collaborations
Packham’s applied work with the Automobile Association and the Department of Transport exemplified his commitment to real-world impact. His contributions to reports such as Risk and Safety on the Roads (1993) and The Older Pedestrian (1995) were directly used in policy discussions. He also contributed to a 1998 report for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) on young male drivers’ attitudes toward pedestrians (Silcock et al., 1998).
Later in his career, Packham contributed methodological expertise to speed perception research. He advised on questionnaire design for the AA Foundation’s report What Limits Speed? (AA Foundation, 1995), showing his continued influence in the field well into the 21st century.
Legacy and Contemporary Relevance
Dr. Packham’s work laid much of the groundwork for today’s human-centred approach to road safety. His identification of distinct driver typologies, emphasis on psychological factors, and commitment to vulnerable groups like older pedestrians remain core themes in current transport psychology (MUARC, 2000).
His findings are still cited in policy reports and academic studies. For instance, his work on elderly pedestrian judgment influenced later studies on crossing behaviour and urban design (AA Foundation, 1995; Monash University, 2000). Moreover, his early profiling of aggressive drivers helped shape modern road safety campaigns aimed at reducing tailgating, speeding, and risky overtaking.
Beyond transport, Packham also co-authored a 2012 study on memory aids for older people, showing his broader commitment to ageing and functional independence (Wilson et al., 2012).
Conclusion
Dr. Derek Packham was a pioneering figure in British transport psychology. Through his work at Newcastle University and his partnerships with national road safety organisations, he illuminated the psychological underpinnings of risk-taking, aggression, and vulnerability on the roads. His research has shaped driver education, influenced urban planning, and informed national road safety strategy. As the field continues to evolve, Dr. Packham’s legacy lives on in the principles of empathy, evidence, and human-centred design that underpin modern transport psychology.
References
Automobile Association Foundation for Road Safety Research (1993) Risk and safety on the roads: Perceptions and attitudes. Basingstoke: AA Foundation.Automobile Association Foundation for Road Safety Research (1995)
Risk and safety on the roads: The older pedestrian. Basingstoke: AA Foundation.Automobile Association Foundation for Road Safety Research (1995)
What limits speed? London: Department for Transport. Available at: https://trid.trb.org/View/447530 [Accessed 28 June 2025].
Herald Scotland (1994) ‘Drivers like animals in an asphalt jungle’, The Herald, 1 July. Available at: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12618029.drivers-like-animals-in-an-asphalt-jungle/ [Accessed 28 June 2025].
Independent, The (1993) ‘Health: Out on the road, driving everyone crazy: Stanley Slaughter learns how to identify the type of motorist most likely to turn into a menace because of frustration and aggression’, The Independent, 26 June. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/health-out-on-the-road-driving-everyone-crazy-stanley-slaughter-learns-how-to-identify-the-type-of-motorist-most-likely-to-turn-into-a-menace-because-of-frustration-and-aggression-1491765.html [Accessed 28 June 2025].
Monash University Accident Research Centre (2000) MUARC Report No. 157: Older drivers – a review. Clayton, Victoria: Monash University. Available at: https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/216880/muarc157.pdf [Accessed 28 June 2025].
Packham, D., Silcock, D. and Gloyne, R. (1993) ‘Risk and safety on the roads: perceptions and attitudes’, Proceedings of the 6th ICTCT Workshop, Salzburg. Available at: https://www.ictct.net/wp-content/uploads/06-Salzburg-1993/06-Packham-et-al.pdf [Accessed 28 June 2025].
Silcock, D., Packham, D., Purdy, J. and Spencer, R. (1998), Young male drivers’ perception of pedestrians. London: Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
Wilson, B.A., Watson, P.C., Baddeley, A.D., Emslie, H.C., Evans, J.J., and Packham, D. (2012) ‘Improving functional independence in older adults using a memory aid: A randomized controlled trial’, Journal of Applied Gerontology, 31(3), pp. 305–314. doi:10.1177/0733464810395042