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Polarization not just in politics, but with food, too

Conservatives and liberals differ in their attitudes toward sustainability, trust in government for food-related information and their top food safety concerns.

Conservatives and liberals differ in their attitudes toward sustainability, trust in government and food safety concerns.
Conservatives and liberals differ in their attitudes toward sustainability, trust in government and food safety concerns.

The International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation’s 2016 Food and Health Survey: Consumer Attitudes Toward Food Safety, Nutrition & Health examines how consumers differ in their attitudes on food issues. The results show that conservatives and liberals differ in their attitudes toward sustainability, trust in government for food-related information, and their top food safety issues.

 “The 2016 Survey, which includes a special focus on understanding the complex array of factors that influence food decisions, provides important insights and trends for health professionals, government officials, educators, as well as others who seek to understand and improve the health of all Americans,” said Kimberly Reed, president of the International Food Information Council Foundation.

Consumers approach sustainability from different angles. Liberals more readily cite the importance of environmental aspects of sustainability, while conservatives are drawn to sustainability for economic reasons.

For example, conservatives believe that conserving farmland over multiple generations (41 percent) and ensuring affordability of the food supply (47 percent) are the most important aspects of sustainability, while liberals cite reducing carbon footprint (22 percent) and conserving natural habitats (51 percent). Both conservatives and liberals agree overwhelmingly that it is important for food products to be produced sustainably. However, liberals (56 percent) are much more likely than conservatives (35 percent) to say that they would pay more for sustainably produced products.

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INTRODUCING! The Latest Trends for Food Products at PACK EXPO Southeast