When choosing products of animal origin, it is important to know how and what the cows are fed, whether they receive growth hormones or antibiotics, whether the meat is organic.
Scientists from the University of Illinois tried to find out which production attributes are most important for buyers when choosing four products: beef, chicken, milk and eggs.
The researchers identified seven criteria that influence the choice of buyers:
- Animals were not injected with growth hormones.
- No genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were used in the production of the product.
- Animals were raised humanely.
- Animals were not given antibiotics.
- Animals were raised in a cage-free environment.
- Animals were fed grass (or raised on a vegetarian diet).
- The product is certified as organic.
The three most important criteria were "absence of hormones", "absence of GMOs" and "humane cultivation". The "organic" attribute turned out to be the least important for consumers.
The criterion for using growth hormones in the production of growth hormones was the biggest surprise for scientists, because it has been banned for a long time. So, trying to find a product that meets this requirement, consumers waste time.
Such labeling is simply confusing. If one manufacturer labels its products as "free of growth hormones" and another manufacturer does not, the latter is simply at a disadvantage.
The lack of importance of "organic" requirements also surprised the researchers.
We are used to using the term "organic" when thinking about fruits or vegetables. However, it also applies to animal products. Organic certification for meat and other products of animal origin already includes many other attributes of production.
By appropriating a large number of different characteristics of the product, the manufacturer is simply trying to satisfy all the requirements of the buyer, who does not know that such characteristics as "organic" or "humanely grown" already include almost all the others. Thus, manufacturers simply increase their sales by forcing people to buy products marked with labels that are important to them.
By choosing milk without hormones and antibiotics, consumers care more about their health than about the health of animals. However, the fact that the criterion of humanity is one of the main ones in this proves the importance of humane keeping of animals.