Recent studies by Mars Global Food Safety Center as well as by Tetra Pak Index came to the same conclusion…that Food Safety is top of mind for consumers globally.
In the context of the study by Mars, food safety refers to safety across the whole supply chain from farm to fork. The new study surveyed more than 1,750 people in the US, UK and China, with more than half of respondents (52%) feel food safety is a top 3 global issue and 77% think it’s a top 10 global issue. Food insecurity has only been exacerbated by COVID-19, and 3% of respondents believe the coronavirus will impact the viability of the global supply chain while 71?lieve it will have impact on global access to food. These consumers think about food safety and security as much as climate change (39%) and pollution (38%).
According to David Crean, Mars Chief Science Officer and Vice President of Corporate R&D, “New food safety threats like those brought by COVID-19 are constantly emerging through a combination of factors including global warming, increased globalisation of trade, as well as changes in agriculture practices and food production. We believe everyone has a right to safe food and it’s also our responsibility to share our knowledge (82% of survey respondents expressed their desire to learn more), expertise and tools to enable safe food for all.”
The Mars Global Food Safety Center has set ambitious targets in 3 critical areas of food safety namely Mycotoxin risk management; Microbial risk management; and Food Integrity. Each of these areas are aligned with consumer concerns identified in the survey. Roughly 60% of respondents expressed concerns about keeping food safe from toxins, as well as bacteria, and 58% are concerned about preventing food fraud.
Survey respondents also expressed the importance for government and private organisations like the GFSC to continue to focus on preventing food safety issues (85%), to invest in early detection programs (84%) and to manage global food safety (80%).
Another study done around the same time by Tetra Pak saw that 2/3 of the respondents considering Food Safety as their Top 3 issues, while 77% saw food waste a key challenge. The latest study, the 13th edition of The Tetra Pak Index has witnessed a 10% growth in global concern on food security and food supplies from 30% in 2019 to 40%.
In addition, more than 50% of consumers not only believe that improving food safety is the responsibility of manufacturers, they see it as the number one issue that companies need to tackle now and in the future. According to this year’s research, health is deeply connected to heightened issues of food safety and hygiene: with 2/3 of consumers saying that being healthy is being safe and 60% of consumers globally saying they worry about the food they buy being hygienic and safe.
Meanwhile, 64% of respondents in the latest study have identified the pandemic as the issue giving them greatest worry, pushing down concern over the environment from 63% in 2019 to 49%.
Consumers also identify the importance of food packaging in ensuring food safety. Many voice out concerns over environmental innovations in packaging which might impact food safety, although many recognise the importance of using ‘sustainable packaging’ as one of the top issues food and beverage brands need to tackle in the near future. To overcome their worries, Adolfo, President and CEO of Tetra Pak said, “Working closely with our customers and stakeholders, we are already on a journey to create the ultimate sustainable food package – a carton package that is made solely from responsibly sourced renewable or recycled materials, is fully recyclable and carbon-neutral, allowing ambient distribution and meeting food safety requirements. We see this as a critical step in building a sustainable future for the next generation, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19.”
With a growing global population set to require up to 70% more food by 2050, at a time when biodiversity, climate change and food security are becoming ever more pressing, there is an urgent need for change. “Bold initiatives such as those taken by Tetra Pak to rethink future food packaging are therefore the need of the hour.”
Food Safety is Top Global Consumer Issue/Concern
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