SURVEY: ORGANIC FOODS CONCERN THE MASSES

MINA WILLIAMS

WASHINGTON, D.C. (FNS) -- A broad group of consumers is concerned about the integrity of organic standards, according to the results of a new survey conducted for the Environmental Media Services by Lake, Sosin, Snell, Perry & Associates.

The survey's backers said the results should dispel the notion that only a small section of the population is worried about organic standards.

"The organic food market is one of the nation's fastest-growing industries," said Arlie Schardt, the firm's executive director. "With the exploding demand for organic products, consumers are increasingly concerned about just what 'organic' means."

The study surveyed 1,006 adults from various demographic groups. It was conducted during the widely publicized USDA comment period for its proposed new rule for a national standard to define "organic" food.

According to the findings, one-third of all Americans buy organic items regularly, and 40 percent purchase organic foods at least a few times a year.

More than three-fourths (79%) said they favor labels that fully inform consumers about produce that has been grown using antibiotics, exposed to irradiation, genetic modification or grown with toxic sludge.

Eighty-five percent of the respondents said they want national organic standards, but oppose labeling as "organic" food that has been genetically modified, grown with toxic sludge, irradiated or treated with antibiotics. More than half, 64%, favored allowing organic producers to specify in their labels that they don't engage in those practices.