The importance of regulatory science in pharmacy education: a survey of food safety awareness

Abstract

This study investigated pharmacy students’ knowledge of “Regulatory Science and Risk Management of Toxic Substances in Food”. Analysis of pre- and post-lecture surveys revealed improved students’ awareness of food safety and toxic substances, such as pesticides and pesticide residues. However, the results indicated that the understanding of risk assessment remained insufficient, particularly concerning the toxicity and intake levels of hazardous substances and their associated risks. The results also highlighted the need to improve risk communication. Therefore, pharmacy students should receive lectures on risk analysis in their early years of study. The study concluded that the inclusion of regulatory science in pharmacy education was an issue for the entire pharmacy field.