London (7.8.09) – The latest report on UK consumer attitudes as surveyed by the Food Standards Agency shows a further decline in concern about GM foods.

Worries over food safety issues in general continued to fall this wave (from 64% to 61%), continuing a gradual downward trend.

The top subjects that about which people expressed apprehensions were food poisoning (47%), and the amount of fat, salt, sugar and saturated fat in food (41%, 40%, 36% and 36% respectively). Food prices and the conditions in which animals are raised were other areas (both at 33%).

GM foods ranked 22nd out of 24 concern categories, with 2-4% expressing spontaneous concern ("What food issues, if any, are you concerned about?") (down from 6%) and 21% when prompted (“Are you concerned about any of the following food issues?”), down from 26%. The report noted that there was significantly less anxiety for the majority of food issues when responses were spontaneous rather than prompted.

Source:

Latest consumer attitudes tracker survey published. Food Standards Agency (6.8.09) (http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2009/aug/tracker)

<<<back