Animal Welfare in U.S. Food Industry Both Helped and Hindered By Consumer Misconceptions

Consumers believe animals raised for food should be treated humanely, but few understand the ethics behind labels such as "grass fed", "cage free" or even "organic certification" for meat products

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Packaged Facts

Jun 01, 2017, 12:26 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of U.S. consumers (58%) are more concerned about food animal welfare than they were just a few years ago, according to market research firm Packaged Fact's recent report, Animal Welfare: Issues and Opportunities in the Meat, Poultry, and Egg Markets in the U.S. In the report, "animal welfare" encompasses key areas including housing, handling, feeding, and slaughter.

Rising interest in animal welfare issues is due in part to consumers' increased concern about the safety of their food, and the growing belief that if an animal is raised in healthy circumstances, then its meat and dairy products will be healthier, as well as better-tasting and more nutritious. Although the common assumption that organic standards currently include animal welfare provisions is a misconception, organic foods such as grass-fed beef succeed precisely because of the consumer assumption that organic certification in meat, poultry, and dairycase foods is inherently linked to animal welfare.

Consumers have different levels of understanding and trust when it comes to product claims associated with animal welfare. Packaged Facts survey data reveal that 19% of consumers only have a general idea of what 'grass-fed' means, with another 19% reporting they don't have a good idea of what the term 'certified humane' means. Only a minority of grocery shoppers (33%) view themselves as well-informed about claims such as hormone/steroid/antibiotic free, cage-free, free-range, pasture-raised, and certified humane. Nonetheless, nearly two-thirds of consumers agree that humane treatment of animals raised for food should be a societal concern and a regulatory issue.

Food companies spanning the production and delivery spectrum, increasingly attuned to consumer as well as investor concerns, have been taking steps to improve the quality of life of the animals in their supply chains. Animal welfare organizations supported by consumers have been a driving force for change, though the decision to improve animal welfare is ultimately left to the individual company, whose response is often grounded in the desire to be competitive in a changing marketplace and proactively responsive to emerging trends. Pork producers are abandoning gestation crates, while egg producers are switching over to cage-free practices. Despite consumers' varying levels of understanding the relationships between organic brand foods and animal welfare standards, new standards are being shaped by next-generation consumer expectations.

About The Report

In this groundbreaking report, Packaged Facts charts the new challenges and opportunities for retail marketers of meat, poultry, eggs, and related products and menu items.

In addition, Animal Welfare: Issues and Opportunities in the Meat, Poultry, and Egg Markets examines marketing and product opportunities for retail and foodservice marketers stemming from changing consumer attitudes and escalating concerns about food animal welfare. The report also examines the role of federal and state government agencies in setting animal welfare guidelines, and the increasing role of animal welfare organizations, especially those that offer certification to animal protein marketers.

View more information about Animal Welfare: Issues and Opportunities in the Meat, Poultry, and Egg Markets, including purchase options, the abstract, table of contents, and related reports at Packaged Facts' website: https://www.packagedfacts.com/Animal-Welfare-Meat-10771767/?progid=89179.

More Packaged Facts reports on foods and beverages are available for purchase at: https://www.packagedfacts.com/food-beverage-market-c84/.

About Packaged Facts

Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer market topics, including consumer demographics and shopper insights, consumer financial products and services, consumer goods and retailing, consumer packaged goods, and pet products and services. Packaged Facts also offers a full range of custom research services.

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SOURCE Packaged Facts