Vloga žvižgačev pri zagotavljanju varnosti živil: primerjalna analiza med bodočimi strokovnjaki : magistrsko delo

Bašelj, Mateja (author), Ovca, Andrej (mentor), Jevšnik Podlesnik, Mojca (reviewer)

Uvod: Varnost živil je ključnega pomena za javno zdravje, vendar kljub zakonskim zahtevam še vedno prihaja do resnih kršitev v živilsko-prehransko-oskrbovalni verigi (angl. »food suply chain«). Prijave oziroma »žvižgaštvo« predstavljajo pomemben mehanizem za odkrivanje teh nepravilnosti. Namen: Namen raziskave je ugotoviti raven znanja in odnos do žvižgaštva med študenti tistih visokošolskih smeri, katerih diplomanti pri bodočem delu najpogosteje zasedejo delovna mesta z odgovornostjo za zagotavljanje varnosti živil, ter primerjati rezultate glede na smer in letnik študija. Metode dela: Teoretični del temelji na sistematičnem pregledu literature. V empiričnem delu je bila izvedena anketa med 181 študenti študijskih programov sanitarno inženirstvo, živilstvo in/ali prehrana, veterinarstvo ter zootehnika. Preučevali smo poznavanje žvižgaštva in dejavnike, ki vplivajo na namero za prijavo nepravilnosti. Za analizo podatkov so bile uporabljene metode opisne statistike ter statistična testa hi-kvadrat in Mann-Whitneyjev U test. Rezultati: Poznavanje pojma žvižgaštvo je razmeroma nizko. Na splošno je zanj slišalo 43,1 % sodelujočih v raziskavi, v kontekstu živilske industrije pa le 11,7 %. Učinkovitost obstoječih mehanizmov prijave so ocenili kot zmerno. Večina sodelujočih (68,3 %) bi nepravilnost prijavila, vendar le anonimno. Statistično značilnih razlik med smermi, letniki in spoloma ni bilo, zato hipotez nismo potrdili. Razprava in zaključek: Rezultati kažejo na nizko ozaveščenost o žvižgaštvu in pripadajoči zakonodaji ter omejeno zaupanje v sistem prijave, kar lahko zmanjša zmožnost pravočasnega prepoznavanja in prijave nepravilnosti v praksi. Izrazita naklonjenost anonimni prijavi kaže na potrebo po krepitvi zaupanja. Ugotovitve poudarjajo pomen sistematične vključitve vsebin o žvižgaštvu, etiki in zakonodaji v izobraževalne programe ter vzpostavitve dostopnih in zaupanja vrednih prijavnih poti pri delodajalcih.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: magistrska dela, sanitarno inženirstvo, varnost živil, žvižgaštvo, anketa, Slovenija
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: ZF - Faculty of Health Sciences
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: [M. Bašelj]
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: IX, 44 str., [6] str. pril.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-184742
• UDC: 614
• COBISS.SI-ID: 285212163
• Publication date in RUL: 15.07.2026

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: The role of whistleblowers in ensuring food safety: a comparative analysis among future professionals : master thesis

Abstract

Introduction: Food safety is essential for public health; however, despite legal requirements, serious violations continue to occur within the food supply chain. Whistleblowing represents an important mechanism for detecting such irregularities. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes toward whistleblowing among students enrolled in higher education programs whose graduates are most likely to occupy positions responsible for ensuring food safety and to compare the results according to study program and year of study. Methods: The theoretical part of the study was based on a systematic literature review. The empirical part consisted of a survey conducted among 181 students enrolled in sanitary engineering, food science and/or nutrition, veterinary medicine, and animal science programs. The study examined knowledge of whistleblowing and factors influencing the intention to report irregularities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square and Mann Whitney U statistical tests test. Results: Knowledge of the concept of whistleblowing was relatively low. Overall, 43.1% of participants reported having heard of whistleblowing, whereas only 11.7% were familiar with the concept in the context of the food industry. The effectiveness of existing reporting mechanisms was rated as moderate. Most participants (68.3%) indicated that they would report an irregularity, but only anonymously. No statistically significant differences were found between study programs, years of study, or gender; therefore, hypotheses were not confirmed. Discussion and Conclusion: The results indicate low awareness of whistleblowing and related legislation, as well as limited trust in reporting systems, which may reduce the likelihood of timely identification and reporting of irregularities in practice. The strong preference for anonymous reporting highlights the need to strengthen trust in reporting mechanisms. The findings emphasize the importance of systematically integrating whistleblowing, ethics, and legal aspects into educational curricula and establishing accessible and trustworthy reporting channels within organizations.

• Keywords: master's theses, sanitary engineering, food safety, whistleblowing, survey, Slovenia