Life often presents us with some very difficult decisions. And, in many cases, the decisions we make can have some very serious consequences. In this context, it also stands to reason that the way in which we analyze information and make decisions will also play a significant role in the choices we make.
The same is true in our own profession. Every food processor wants to believe that the food it produces is as safe as it can be, and that any departure from this standard is exceptionally rare. But, the safety of a company’s food is only as good as the company’s food-safety decisions. And, in many instances, when a company is faced with a difficult food-safety choice, it will place more significance on information that supports what it wants to believe, while discounting information that runs contrary to its belief.