9/24/2007 6:06:00 AM
Beef Alert: Poll Shows More Americans Checking COOL Labels
More Americans are checking product and food labels after the proliferation of scares associated with Chinese imports, according to a survey conducted by the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute.
Nearly 69 percent of the 1,000 Americans polled indicated they check labels for nation of origin, up from 53 percent a year ago, the institute said.
Furthermore, 86 percent agreed with a statement calling for suspension of Chinese imports until China meets U.S. product and food-safety standards.
Meantime, 87 percent indicated they have confidence in American-made and distributed products and food.
But fewer than half of Americans surveyed (47 percent) agreed that the United States is doing a good job ensuring imports meet set safety and quality standards.
"It's not surprising that Americans are clearly very concerned about food imported from other countries," Dr. Balbir Bhasin, a professor of international business at Sacred Heart, said in a press release. "The government clearly needs to do more to protect the consumer for poor quality imports, especially meats, fish and dairy products. Labels and expiration dates alone do not suffice."
By Tom Johnston on Monday, September 24, 2007 For Meatingplace.com.
