Information on origin of meat vital
Agri Aware’s research, undertaken late last year, showed that some 97.2% of consumers believe that all shops, hotels and restaurants should adequately inform the customer as to the country of origin of their meat and poultry products.
Practically all consumers (98.6%) favour the introduction of a green label to identify food as Irish.
The research also showed that some 81% of consumers said they try to buy Irish food. Some 87.3% of consumers said the country of origin of meat and poultry products was important to them.
However, only 63.8% check the country of origin when purchasing meat and only 12.9% when eating out.
Almost two-thirds (63.8%) of consumers assume the country of origin of meat and poultry products is Ireland.
Almost 90% of the consumers considered Irish food to be of a higher quality than imports from South American countries.
When asked for the reasons why meat was imported into the country, 74.4% believed it was because it was cheaper.
Agri Aware chairman Mike Magan said consumers clearly indicated in the research that they are in favour of clear labelling of the country of origin of food at all points of purchase.
