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Horsemeat scandal: consumer fears have eased, poll shows Horsemeat scandal: consumer fears have eased, poll shows
(8 days later)
The government appears to have averted a crisis of confidence in the meat industry by telling consumers the horsemeat scandal posed no health risk, suggest pollsters who questioned more than 8,000 people online.The government appears to have averted a crisis of confidence in the meat industry by telling consumers the horsemeat scandal posed no health risk, suggest pollsters who questioned more than 8,000 people online.
The proportion of people who say they will change their shopping habits – or claim they would buy more fresh meat, cut down on ready meals or avoid products from companies linked to the scare – has dropped from 52% at the height of the furore to 47%.The proportion of people who say they will change their shopping habits – or claim they would buy more fresh meat, cut down on ready meals or avoid products from companies linked to the scare – has dropped from 52% at the height of the furore to 47%.
Figures published by Kantar show more women than men say they have changed their buying habits, but analysts are cautious about predicting the long-term impact on consumer behaviour. A question posed in February as to whether consumers would be less likely to buy processed meat as a result of the revelations over equine contamination – more than a third said they were – was not repeated this month. However, very few people – less than 1% – said they would buy more.Figures published by Kantar show more women than men say they have changed their buying habits, but analysts are cautious about predicting the long-term impact on consumer behaviour. A question posed in February as to whether consumers would be less likely to buy processed meat as a result of the revelations over equine contamination – more than a third said they were – was not repeated this month. However, very few people – less than 1% – said they would buy more.
Also the proportion saying they would buy locally sourced meat from retailers such as farm shops or local butchers rose from 13% to 16%. However, those saying they would buy more fresh meat fell from 20% to 17%, and the proportion claiming they would purchase fewer ready meals with meat fell from 13% to 11%.Also the proportion saying they would buy locally sourced meat from retailers such as farm shops or local butchers rose from 13% to 16%. However, those saying they would buy more fresh meat fell from 20% to 17%, and the proportion claiming they would purchase fewer ready meals with meat fell from 13% to 11%.
The scandal still had potential to cause lasting change in buying and eating habits as there would be a segment of consumers who might have been turned off processed meat completely, said Lloyd Burdett, head of global clients and strategy at Kantar's the Futures Company.The scandal still had potential to cause lasting change in buying and eating habits as there would be a segment of consumers who might have been turned off processed meat completely, said Lloyd Burdett, head of global clients and strategy at Kantar's the Futures Company.
"We are told horsemeat poses no health risks for consumers, but if that situation was to change then we would expect to see a bigger long-term impact on consumer attitudes and behaviour.""We are told horsemeat poses no health risks for consumers, but if that situation was to change then we would expect to see a bigger long-term impact on consumer attitudes and behaviour."
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