Food quality - confidence is dented

ARAG trend on World Health Day

Half of Germans Consider food scandals for the tip of the iceberg - 28,2 percent hold organic options for burden - 11,4 percent have changed their purchasing behavior principle

In view of the last food scandals about animal feed containing dioxin, ARAG, together with the opinion research institute Emnid, asked more than 1.000 Germans about their eating habits. The focus was - with some time lag - on the after-effects of these events on the confidence of Germans in the quality of food and on possible changes in shopping behavior. The ARAG trend shows that Germans are skeptical about food quality. However, this does not mean that they change their eating habits in the long term.

The majority is suspicious

Be it BSE, rotten meat or dioxin in animal feed - all food scandals have one thing in common: they attract a great deal of media interest. But how do consumers react to these reports? The representative survey gives a clear picture: more than half of the Germans (50,1 percent) expressed the fear that the food scandals are only the "tip of the iceberg". Those who are responsible for feeding their families are particularly clear: 71,0 percent of housewives and househusbands have lost confidence in their food. In return, 41,6 percent of those surveyed believe that the scandals are isolated cases and that the quality of food in Germany is good. More than two-thirds of all respondents, namely 69,5 percent, were of the opinion that those responsible for the scandals should be held more accountable than before and, if necessary, punished. This opinion is expressed most clearly by consumers in North Rhine-Westphalia.

How much does "organic" help?

In view of the apparently regularly recurring food scandals, the question of alternatives to industrial food production arises. A total of 15,3 percent of Germans consider organic products to be the healthier alternative and mostly or even only buy them. The acceptance values ​​differ between the west and the east of the republic

clearly: While 18,2 percent of West Germans mainly use organic products, the figure in the East is only 4,4 percent. After all, a quarter of all West Germans (25,8 percent) believe that organic products are also contaminated and their consumption makes no difference. In the new federal states, this skepticism is even higher at 37,3 percent.

This high difference in acceptance of organic products cannot be explained by the different income levels in East and West. In both East and West, 16,5 percent of those surveyed stated that they could not afford organic goods. Overall, the willingness of Germans to spend more money for a healthier diet seems to be low: Only 9,5 percent stated that they consciously dig deeper into their pockets.

Aftermath of the scandals are weak

After the last major food scandal about dioxin in feed for chickens, the sale of eggs fell drastically, while supermarkets had shortages of uncontaminated organic eggs. ARAG wanted to know how sustainable such consumer reactions are in the long term. One in five (20,4 percent) replied that they had already changed their eating and shopping behavior after a food scandal. However, only 11,4 percent of those surveyed had good intentions that lasted longer. This means that practically 80 percent of Germans have not changed their eating habits, even in the short term.

ARAG trend

As part of its general market and social research, ARAG Allgemeine Rechtsschutz-Versicherungs-AG has been conducting surveys in cooperation with TNS Emnid since 2007 to assess public opinion in Germany. The political desire for personal responsibility in the bourgeois camp triggers a comprehensive reorientation of each individual. This also leads to a growing need for legal orientation and advice. ARAG, as one of the leading legal protection insurance companies, offers important support for individual protection and risk minimization with its products. The "ARAG Trend" survey takes place in spring and autumn. More than 1.000 people are interviewed.

The ARAG Group is the internationally recognized independent partner for law and protection. ARAG is the largest family company in the German insurance industry. With more than 3.300 employees, the group generates a turnover and premium volume of over EUR 1,4 billion. Outside of Germany, ARAG is active for its customers in another twelve European countries and the USA. Today, ARAG occupies a leading position in the US legal protection market. In addition, the group is the market leader in Spain and Italy with its legal protection products.

Source: Düsseldorf [ ARAG ]