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Pew Research Center Studies Americans' Food Values

March 31, 2017

1 Min Read
Pew Research Center Studies Americans' Food Values

According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, researchers describe food as a new “flashpoint in American culture and politics”, with the way Americans eat becoming a source of potential social, economic and political friction.   

Organics is at the forefront of how consumers view their food, with greater preference for organic food coinciding with greater skepticism about GMOs.  According to the study, three out of every four Americans who are most concerned about GMOs say most of what they eat is organic.  Conversely, 75 percent of those not concerned about GMOs say they eat little or no organic food.   

Further, the study indicates 55 percent of all Americans believe organic fruits and vegetables are better for their health while only three percent say conventional produce is better; 41 percent believe that it makes no difference.   

Other survey findings include:  

  • There are more vegans/vegetarians among younger Americans and liberal Democrats

  • Most are not concerned about conflicting scientific studies and feel that this just means new information negates old.

  • Sixty-eight percent of consumers have purchased organic food and 73 percent have purchased locally grown food in the past month.

  • While 59 percent of all Americans said organic produce tastes the same as conventional, 51 percent of those saying they eat most or some organic food, say organic produce tastes better than conventional.

  • Seventy-two percent of Americans overall and 65 percent of those favoring organic food say that price is a factor in their purchasing decisions.

  • Forty-eight percent of all Americans say that finding organic food is relatively easy.

For more details and to see the complete report, visit the Pew Center’s website.   

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