(BIGresearch) U.S. Consumers Remain Undecided on Irradiated Food Despite Use of Irradiation for Processing the U.S. Mail

When it comes to eating irradiated food most U.S. consumers remain undecided. Some consumers indicate more positively toward the use of irradiation in food processing since the U.S. Postal Service uses irradiation to kill possible anthrax spores in the mail. However, responses differ for male and female consumers with females being more undecided about the safety of irradiated foods and their attitude toward irradiation was less influenced by its application by the Postal Service.

COLUMBUS-February 14, 2002--- When it comes to eating irradiated food most U.S. consumers remain undecided. Some consumers indicate more positively toward the use of irradiation in food processing since the U.S. Postal Service uses irradiation to kill possible anthrax spores in the mail. However, responses differ for male and female consumers with females being more undecided about the safety of irradiated foods and their attitude toward irradiation was less influenced by its application by the Postal Service. This is according to data collected in January 2002 by BIGresearch from 7,100 consumers. The response patterns of male and female consumers to questions concerning irradiation of food are as follows:

Do you believe that irradiated food is safe to eat?
                Male     Female    Total
Yes             46.2%    20.0%     32.6%
No             14.8%    15.7%     15.3%
Undecided     39.0%    64.3%     52.1%

Since U.S. Mail uses irradiation to kill anthrax, are you feeling more positive toward using irradiation in food processing?
                Male     Female    Total
Yes             30.3%    16.0%     22.9%
No             29.5%    25.2%     27.3%
Undecided     40.3%    58.8%     49.8%

In a February study by BIGresearch of 7,400 respondents, there were similar findings regarding willingness to eat genetically modified chicken or turkey, as well as breakfast cereals.

"Many people thought that the application of the irradiation processes by the U.S. Postal Service would increase its acceptance by the consumer for use in food processing. While it seems to have contributed to a more positive attitude in some people, especially the male consumer, the majority of consumers, especially females, are undecided. We will need to explore these gender differences in light of age, educational, occupational, and family income to gain a more complete picture", said William Flinn, Ph.D., President Emeritus of MUCIA (A consortium of the public institutions of the Big Ten Conference) and a member of the faculty at the Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

"Like our recent May 2001 survey on genetically modified foods, the verdict is also still out on the likelihood of the U.S. public consuming irradiated foods. This global controversy on both issues needs more research and analysis to provide consumers, policy makers, producers, and processors an understanding of the issues involved", said Joseph Pilotta, Ph.D., Vice President of BIGresearch.

About BIGresearch:
BIGresearch gathers consumer market intelligence from one of the world's largest online communities that includes over 60 million people. BIGresearch seeks to uncover previously unknown, information in order to empower its clients with insights for identifying new opportunities in a fragmented and transitory marketplace. Complimentary top line findings are available at http://www.bigresearch.com/. The entire database is available on a CD Rom for purchase from BIGresearch.
   
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