Consumers declare themselves sensitive to the issue of food safety. Many try to obtain information through labels and fear adulteration and counterfeiting. The main trends in public opinion on food safety issues are investigated by the METROFOOD-IT Consortium, an agri-food research infrastructure funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). (1)
Food safety and consumers, the questionnaire
The METROFOOD-IT Consortium distributed a questionnaire among visitors to Earth Day in Rome and online.
At the survey 180 people participated, mostly women (66,8%) and largely belonging to the 35-60 age group (70%).
Two in ten are 'very knowledgeable'
From the answers collected, it emerges that Italians feel prepared on food safety issues:
- 18,8% of those interviewed define themselves as 'very informed',
- 59,4% consider themselves 'fairly informed'.
Only a minority they say little (20,6%) or not at all (1,2%) informed on this topic.
The role of labels
The labels they are considered a key tool for food safety. To the question 'How important do you think it is to read food labels to understand their healthiness and aspects related to food safety?' the participants confirmed the usefulness of the information reported on the packaging, defining it as a tool
– 'extremely important' in the majority of cases (44,4%),
– 'very important' for a further 42,2% of the sample.
Distracted readers
Few consumers, however, state that they read food labels carefully. In detail,
– only 20,1% say they dedicate a lot of time to it with careful reading,
– 25,1% ensure that they dedicate 'enough time' to it, paying extreme attention to the list of ingredients and the table of nutritional values,
– 27,4% of the participants in the questionnaire claim that they dedicate 'sufficient' time to it.
Among those who declare of just taking a quick look or rarely reading the labels, the reason given is the lack of time and/or the persistence of consolidated habits that are difficult to change.
Craving for Nutri-Score
Customers respondents seem to want the Nutri-Score on the label. When asked if they believe it is important 'that the presence of fats or sugars in high quantities should be reported on the label in a more effective way' they reply that they consider it
– 'extremely important' (53,6%),
– 'very important' (36,5%).
The Nutri-Score, defined by the scientific community as the best system for summarizing this information on the front of the label, is still unobtainable in Italy. (2) In the meantime, you can use the free Yuka app which, in addition to providing an opinion on the nutritional profile of the food, highlights the possible presence of less than recommended additives. (3)
Adulteration and counterfeiting among the first fears
The most heartfelt fears by consumers concern the risk of consuming adulterated or counterfeit foods. With respect to these eventualities,
- 34,1% say they are 'very worried',
- 33,5% are 'extremely',
- 26,3% 'fairly'.
The preventive measures adopted against food adulteration and counterfeiting are simple: the vast majority of those interviewed declare that they are committed to purchasing fresh products or only brands that they know well and trust.
Seasonal fruit and vegetables
The frequency of purchase of seasonal fruit and vegetables are a must in Italy.
72,2% of survey participants say they buy seasonal products every time they go shopping, while another 23,9% say they do so 'whenever possible'.
The impact of ultra-processed foods
Ultraprocessed foods, with ingredients not available in nature and/or subjected to intensive processing, are recognized as harmful. (4) Overall, the sample declares himself attentive and aware:
- 43,6% say they consume it occasionally,
- 33% say they don't eat them more than twice a week,
- 16,2% admit to eating them often (more than twice a week).
Marta Strinati
Footnotes
(1) The METROFOOD-IT Consortium (www.metrofood.it) is a research infrastructure funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). It includes ENEA (National Agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development), the University of Naples Federico II, the University of Siena, the University of Parma, the University of Rome La Sapienza, the University of Bari Aldo Moro, the University of Molise and INRIM (National Institute of Metrological Research).
(2) Dario Dongo. NutriScore, the tools for calculating the nutritional profiles of food and beverages. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(3) Marta Strinati, Dario Dongo. Yuka, if you know it, you spread it. The app conquers 2 million Italians in just one year. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(4) Marta Strinati. Identikit of ultraprocessed foods, excess of critical nutrients and 'cosmetic' additives. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 2.9.23
A professional journalist since January 1995, she has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic studies on food and has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
