Food/Product Selection or Purchase Criteria

This is a report provided by the U.S. beef industry that summarizes research addressing attitudes toward beef and how to communicate with consumers in the United States. This is an annual survey and the results are compared with previous years.

To evaluate the readability of such materials in a more robust and transparent manner, the Humane Research Council (HRC) partnered with VegFund and FARM to test a selection of outreach materials that are commonly used by vegan advocates. The average readability scores placed these materials in the range of the 11th grade reading level or higher, which is three to four grade levels higher than the average U.S. adult.

This survey evaluates the knowledge and attitudes of U.S. adults toward the use of animals in testing cosmetics. Most U.S. adults believe that testing cosmetics on animals is unethical and that it is important to develop alternatives.

According to this survey, young adults are interested in learning more about various cuts of meat and how to prepare it. This survey is of interest to animal advocates as it addresses how young adults get most of their information about meat and their level of knowledge about food preparation.

This white paper is the summary of talks coming from a 2011 symposium addressing the use of antibiotics in animals raised for food. The symposium, sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry, had talks addressing possible human health risks associated with antibiotic use as well as consumer attitudes and concerns about the use of antibiotics. The paper also discusses how to communicate with consumers regarding this issue to assuage their concerns.

Based on data from Technomic's online MenuMonitor database, which tracks the menus of 2,000 restaurant menus, this article discusses the increase in the use of pig products in restaurants in 2011.

Researchers used surveys and taste tests to examine gender differences in preferences for meat. They found that the color, flavor, odor, and texture affect preference for meat, in that order. Overall, women were less likely to prefer red meat than men.

Researchers conducted a panel survey for three years as well as in-person interviews to ascertain the role that animal welfare standards have in food purchases, as well as perceptions toward the current state of meat production. The study reports on the attitudes of Flemish citizens toward animal welfare, demographic differences in these attitudes, and the ways in which consumers want welfare issues to be presented to them.

Humane Trends is a barometer of the status of animal protection in the United States. This study brings together a collection of 25 diverse indicators to assess the status and progress of animal well-being, providing a comprehensive view of animal use and abuse in the United States to help inform animal advocates as well as policymakers and the public. Although Humane Trends compiles the most accurate data currently available for each indicator, the overall study is limited by the lack of reliable data regarding animal protection issues. Humane Trends serves to underscore the need for further research and more accurate information about our treatment of animals.