Misconceptions Persist About Organic and Conventional Produce, Survey Finds

A recent survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) reveals that while 91% of Americans consider how their food is grown when making food decisions, many harbor misconceptions about organic and conventional produce. The 2024 IFIC Spotlight Survey: Public Perceptions Of Pesticides & Produce Consumption found that 70% of consumers prioritize keeping food safe, and 60% are concerned about pesticide use when considering how food is grown.

Why this matters: The widespread misconceptions about organic and conventional produce can have significant implications for public health, as they may lead toreally, keeping, consumers, eating essential fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, the perpetuation of these myths can hinder efforts to promote sustainable and evidence-based agricultural practices.

One of the key findings of the survey is that 47% of Americans believe organic agriculture does not use pesticides, despite the fact that both organic and conventional produce utilize pesticides. Furthermore, 59% of consumers who are concerned about pesticide use believe consuming foods grown with pesticides are bad for their health.

Tamika Sims, PhD, IFIC Senior Director of Agriculture Technology Communications, stated, "The pesticide residue found on both conventional and organic produce has time and time again been found to be present in minute amounts. Multiple government agencies confirm that these low residue levels do not pose a health or safety risk." The survey also found that 35% of Americans who are not concerned about pesticide use cite rinsing their fresh produce, and 29% trust farmers to use pesticides responsibly.

Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, IFIC president & CEO, explained, "Low intake of fruits and vegetables by Americans is not a new phenomenon—it's been chronically low for decades. This research highlights gaps in not only consumer understanding of pesticides but also how harmful misinformation can further widen the fruit and vegetable consumption gap in the U.S. and around the world."

The survey underscores the importance of consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables—in all forms and from all production methods—as it is safe, nutritious, and important for health and well-being. Experts recommend washing fresh produce with cold water prior to consuming to remove any remaining residues. The findings also highlight the need forleveraging, technology, regulations, enhance, foodinformation to empower consumers and bridge the gap between consumer understanding and scientific facts.

The IFIC survey sheds light on the persistent misconceptions surrounding organic and conventional produce among American consumers. As Tamika Sims, PhD, emphasized,"Multiple government agencies confirm that these low residue levels do not pose a health or safety risk. "Educating the public with accurate information is crucial to promote healthy eating habits and dispel harmful myths about pesticide use injournal, alternative, agriculture, organic.

Key Takeaways

• 91% of Americans consider how food is grown when making food decisions.
• 70% of consumers prioritize keeping food safe, and 60% are concerned about pesticide use.
• 47% of Americans mistakenly believe organic agriculture doesn't use pesticides.
• Low pesticide residue levels on produce do not pose a health or safety risk.
• Consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables from all production methods is safe and nutritious.