Food Safety, Additives or Diseases

A trend in food labeling is to make claims related to agricultural management, and this is occurring with dairy labels. A survey study was conducted to compare retail milk for quality (antibiotics and bacterial counts), nutritional value (fat, protein, and solids-not-fat), and hormonal composition (somatotropin, insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1], estradiol, and progesterone) as affected by three label claims related to dairy-cow management: conventional, recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST)- free (processor-certified not from cows supplemented with rbST), or organic (follows US Department of Agriculture organic practices). [Excerpted from article]

According to Mike Hutjens, dairy extension specialist at the University of Illinois, there are no nutritional differences in content, quality, or wholesomeness in milk from cows treated or not treated with rbST, or organic sourced milk.

A survey conducted by Health Canada found that Canadians want mandatory labeling of mercury in fish, however Health Canada believes that this mandatory labeling is not warranted and the agency is looking at other options.

An Ohio State University study of pigs raised in antibiotic-free and conventional settings revealed that pigs raised outdoors without antibiotics had higher rates of three foodborne pathogens compared with pigs raised on conventional farms, which remain indoors and receive preventive doses of antimicrobial drugs.

Research studies have shown that stress exhibited by pigs prior to being slaughtered can have a significant impact on the end product quality ("without even considering humane or ethical aspects of animal handling"). Major stress factors include poor handling, transport, and housing.

Food recalls are having a significant impact on the food choices made by those in the U.S. More than half of consumers (57%) have stopped eating a particular food as the result of a recent recall, and 76% are currently more concerned about foods they eat than they were five years ago.

Consumption of seafood among Korean consumers is increasing due to growing concerns about the safety of U.S. beef industry imports and avian influenza ("bird flu").

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) examines the shopping, cooking, and dining habits of U.S. consumers, noting that higher food and fuel costs are causing consumers to cook more at home and dine out less frequently. In addition, consumers are making fewer purchases of luxury foods, more purchases of store brand items, and eating leftovers more often.

Findings from by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) show that one-third of the European Union's turkey flocks bred for human consumption had some presence of Salmonella between 2006 and 2007, posing an infection risk for humans.

A 2008 survey commissioned by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) found that, during this time of rising health care costs, Americans are eager to invest in preventing diseases and promoting healthy lifestyles as a way of helping reduce long term health care costs around the country.