Special Eurobarometer: Food Related Risks
Submitted on Nov 19, 2010 (Original item from 2010)
Diet and Nutrition | Food Safety, Additives or Diseases | Food Trends | Food/Product Selection or Purchase Criteria | International Research | Meat, Dairy, Egg Consumption
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Short Description:
This report analyzes the concerns of European consumers about the possible risks associated with food. It examines public confidence in food safety and the ability of public authorities to protect consumers, as well as the credibility of the sources consumers use to find information on food safety.
Abstract:
Regarding food-related risks, most respondents associate food and eating with pleasure, specifically citing the selection of fresh and tasty foods (58%)and the enjoyment of meals with friends and family (54%). Slightly more than one-third (37%) of respondents associated food safety with food. Consumers believe the potential risks that are most likely to affect them personally are the economic crisis (20%), environmental pollution (18%), and food-related problems (11%).
No specific widespread concerns about food-related risks were noted among respondents, though 19% did cite chemicals, pesticides and other substances as major concerns. In fact, when offered a specific list of possible issues, European consumers mentioned pesticides (31%), antibiotics (30%), pollutants (29%), and the cloning of animals for food products (30%) as risks they are "very worried" about. Fewer consumers were "very worried" about their weight (15%) or not having a healthy diet (15%). Moreover, with respect to possible risks from animal infections or diseases, 42% of respondents said they were confident they were avoiding these risks, whereas the majority (52%) claimed not to be.
Confidence in information sources varied, with consumers citing the greatest degree of confidence in information obtained from health professionals (84%), family and friends (82%), consumer organizations (76%), scientists (73%), and environmental protection groups (71%).
Other findings include the percentages of respondents specifying they are "very worried" or "fairly worried" about specific animal-related concerns:
- Residues like antibiotics or hormones in meat (70%)
- Pollutants like mercury in fish and dioxins in pork (69%)
- Genetically modified organisms found in food or drinks (66%)
- Cloning animals for food products (65%)
- The welfare of farmed animals (64%)
- Food poisoning from bacterial like salmonella in eggs or listeria in cheese (62%)
- New viruses found in animals like avian or bird flu (60%)
- BSE or mad cow disease (46%)
Spot Check Number:
1523
Sponsor:
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
Animal Type:
Farm Animals
Record Type:
Research Study
Research Method:
Online Survey
Geographic Region:
International
Number of Participants:
27,000+
Population Descriptors:
European consumers
Year Conducted:
2010
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