Diet and Nutrition

An opinion poll conducted at a European poultry technical seminar found that nearly a third of nutritionists, veterinarians, and other industry experts believe that the European Union (EU) program to reduce salmonella contamination in eggs and poultry flocks will put the competitiveness of EU poultry producers at risk.

According to research by Natural Marketing Institute (NMI), more than 80% of the total U.S. adult population show some type of "green motivation." Moreover, the number of consumers who are "sustainability active" has increased since 2004 and now extends to several consumer segments identified by NMI.

The American Dietetic Association's survey of consumer attitudes regarding food and nutrition shows that health continues to play a key role in consumer diets. Nearly half of consumers (43%) feel that they are currently doing all they can to eat a healthy diet, and 67% feel that diet and nutrition are personally very important to them. People also note consuming less in beef, pork, and dairy.

A study conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that people who ate wild game killed with lead bullets appeared to have higher lead levels than those who ate little or no wild game.

Australians are voting with their wallets regarding the way that chickens for meat consumption are raised, with three in five Australians choosing chickens that are "free to roam outside in paddocks and guaranteed to not contain growth hormones."

U.S. consumers are losing confidence in the food industry’s handling of farmed animals, according to a new survey conducted by the Center for Food Integrity. Relative to last year, consumers are now more likely to disagree with the statement, "U.S. meat is derived from humanely treated animals." Consumers tend to agree with the statement, "I would support a law in my state to ensure the humane treatment of farm animals."

Business consulting firm Deloitte's survey of U.S. consumers found that, to improve their buying decisions, consumers want their foods to clearly display key information (including the food's country of origin), even if this means additional cost to the consumer.

In "Happier Meals: Rethinking the Global Meat Industry," Worldwatch Institute researcher Danielle Nierenberg documents the harmful effects of factory farming in both industrialized and developing countries and explains the range of consequences for the environment, human health, and local communities.

A survey of consumers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Argentina, and China reveals that consumers are most concerned with taste, quality, and the price of food; health is also important, particularly in China. Consumers predict that what we eat will be different in 2020, and while they would like to consume more local foods, they expect that more of their food will be imported.

This Canadian study sought to identify the attitudes, health-related behavior, "social adjustment," and perceptions of personal health among both vegetarian and omnivorous teenagers, with the goal of determining specific characteristics related to vegetarianism.