Food Trends

Consumer Reports examines the public's perception of and confidence in the U.S. food system. The specific issues addressed includes consumer attitudes toward country of origin labeling and "naturally raised" meat, as well as genetically engineered and cloned animals.

This Ipsos/McClatchy survey found that 54% of U.S. adults rate the level of food safety in the United States as an "A" or "B," although 28% feel that food safety has gotten worse in the six months preceding the survey.

This study of consumer attitudes shows that increasing food prices are becoming a bigger concern for U.S. consumers and are affecting the food choices and purchasing habits of these food purchasers.

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.

Consumer demand for more humanely raised and healthier foods has led to labels such as "cage free," "no antibiotics used," and "no hormones administered." However, these labels typically cover only a single aspect of the product's origin and may be redundant or misleading. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has categorized these different labels and surveyed their availability among the U.S.'s top 23 grocery chains.

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.

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.