Consumers Increasingly Using Online Information Sources
Research by the Center for Food Integrity (CFI) shows a dramatic shift by consumers toward using online sources of information about food systems issues and organizations. Nearly half of respondents (43%) are “very concerned” about the humane treatment of farm animals.
According to this research, consumers now prefer online sources of information about food systems and organizations, followed by friends and family, and then television. The least preferred sources of information are newspapers and radio.
In addition, consumers feel that non-governmental organizations are the most credible sources of information regarding the humane treatment of farm animals, followed by farm animal veterinarians and university experts. The survey also asked respondents to rate their attitudes on a number of statements, including:
- If farm animals are treated decently and humanely, I have no problem consuming meat, milk and eggs
- I would support a law in my state to ensure the humane treatment of farm animals
- The U.S. Meat Industry is subject to a federal law detailing the ways in which livestock must be handled and processed in plants to ensure humane treatment
- A lack of federal oversight of the U.S. Meat Industry makes livestock abuse common
- Raising animals indoors protects them from predators
- Raising animals indoors protects them from weather extremes
- Farm animals that are raised for food should be treated the same way household companion animal owners treat their companion animals
- Most pigs, turkeys and chickens are raised indoors
- U.S. meat is derived from humanely treated animals
- Raising animals indoors is beneficial to the animal