Research by Pfizer Animal Health provides insight into consumer attitudes about pork products and how pigs are raised. This survey found that most consumers do not have a good understanding of how farm animals are raised, particularly with respect to sick or at-risk animals.

More than 40% of consumers do not know how pigs are raised and, without that knowledge, less than half consider pork to be “wholesome.” However, after significant exposure to a narrative outlining the industry perspective on drugs for farmed animals, consumer confidence in pork’s wholesomeness and safety increased by 63%.

The narrative explained several industry-favoring factors, including explaining how veterinarians are involved in animal care, how the Food and Drug Administration approves medication if the animal gets sick, that animals that receive antibiotics are not allowed to enter the food supply until after a waiting period, and that government agencies require the testing of meat and milk to ensure absence of residues.

Other pre-narrative sentiments include:

• 40% felt animals that had been given antibiotics should not be allowed into the food supply. After the narrative, 70-75% agreed that sick animals should be treated with antibiotics if all practices described were followed.
• About half were concerned that antibiotics given to farm animals might end up in their food. After the narrative, more than two-thirds felt that the practices described were adequate to ensure product safety.
• About half were unsure or did not believe that farm animals are under the care of a veterinarian, while after the narrative two-thirds were made more confident of this fact.