The results of a new study from Context Marketing show that ethical foods represent quality and safety to American consumers. Broadly defined as foods that are produced with conscious regard to environmental protection, high quality and safety standards, and animal welfare, nearly seven out of ten consumers are willing to pay more for foods produced according to these higher ethical standards. According to 91% of consumers, among other things, “ethical foods” avoid the inhumane treatment of animals.

Health and food safety continue to be important issues and a newly published poll by Harris Interactive shows notable consumer concern and potential sales backlash regarding the safety of fresh food items, including especially meat, poultry, and seafood products. This is yet another factor that could motivate consumers to become more interested in vegetarian foods.

If you love data and want to know more about the consumers or markets for your products, you’ll be excited to learn about the new Food Environment Atlas launched this month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This interesting and useful online mapping tool provides an abundance of data relating to consumer food choices, health and well-being, and community characteristics.

Sometimes checking the pulse on what consumers are saying is easier than you think. Sometimes it just takes the click of the mouse and you can catch a glimpse of what consumers are thinking, feeling, and eating!

In late 2008, the Dutch Vegetarian Association studied the environmental consequences of substituting vegetable proteins for animal proteins in the Dutch diet. By looking at both the product and menu levels of consumer diets, the environmental burdens of both types of products were analyzed and researchers drew several conclusions about the environmental impact a change in diet from animal to vegetable proteins might have.