What recent factor has increased the emphasis on practicing good food safety principles?

The recent increase in media attention and coverage has heightened awareness around food safety principles. When foodborne illness outbreaks occur, the media play a significant role in reporting these incidents, bringing them to the public's attention. This coverage not only informs consumers about potential risks but also pressures food service establishments to enhance their safety practices to avoid negative publicity and liability. As people become more aware of food safety issues through news stories, they tend to demand higher standards from restaurants and food providers, further emphasizing the need for strict adherence to food safety guidelines.

Other factors may be relevant to food safety, but they do not drive the same level of public urgency or accountability. For example, while the discovery of new foodborne illnesses contributes to the overall understanding of food safety, it is the media's role in highlighting these issues that galvanizes public action. Similarly, the legality surrounding foodborne disease outbreaks relates to the repercussions for businesses rather than directly increasing the emphasis on practicing safety. The rise in food prices may impact consumer behavior, but it does not inherently influence food safety practices as directly as media coverage does.