A report from the Washington, D.C.-based United Fresh Produce Association shows that 90 percent of consumers are concerned about the safety of fresh produce, with 32 percent of shoppers reporting they are very concerned or extremely concerned.
Shoppers who spent more money in the produce department were more likely to fall into the categories of very concerned or extremely concerned.
Amy Philpott, vice president of communications for United Fresh, said “Issues Scan” began as a consumer survey about food safety but evolved into what will be an annual report based on consumer polling.
“Once we started looking at food safety, we realized there were a whole host of issues to deal with,” Philpott said.
In addition to food safety, the report includes sections about environmental and social issues, product origin, consumer preferences for different forms of produce (whole, fresh-cut, frozen, canned, etc.) and consumer desire for product information.
Philpott said the study aimed to not only gauge consumer opinion about the various topics but to also analyze how those opinions affect purchasing decisions.
“We need to know what consumer perception is before we can begin addressing the issues,” she said.
Consumer interviews were conducted in March and United Fresh had planned to publish the report in the spring to coincide with its annual trade show. Philpott said the release was delayed so that additional interviews could be done after the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak that sickened more than 1,400 people from April through August.
Consumers were asked whether their concern about produce safety had increased or remained the same in the past year. Forty-six percent of shoppers queried in April said their concern had increased. In August the figure climbed to 54 percent.
Source: The Packer