Food Safety Tops Consumers' List Of Concerns

U.S. consumers are more concerned about the safety of the food they eat than they are about the war in Iraq or global warming, according to the Center for Food Integrity’s (CFI) annual Consumer Trust Survey.The survey asked respondents to react to 24 attitudinal statements about the food system. Fewer than 20 percent of those surveyed strongly agreed that government agencies are doing a good job ensuring the safety of the food we eat.“Consumers are very concerned about food safety,” said Jan Wilson, president of Gestalt Inc., the international market research firm who conducted the study. “Governmental agencies responsible for ensuring the safety of the food supply are not being perceived very favorably.”The study also asked consumers to rate their level of concern about a series of life events and current situations. Rising energy costs, the U.S. economy, and the rising cost of food were the top three issues of concern. However, food safety rated higher as a concern than global warming or the war in Iraq.To view a summary of the survey's findings, click here. Source: Center for Food Integrity