81% of EU citizens consider it important that their food bears a label that guarantees quality – though awareness of EU quality labels is currently quite low – according to the results of a new survey conducted by the European Commission.

The survey in question is the most recent Eurobarometer study based on the subject of EU citizens, agriculture and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The most recent survey was carried out between August and September 2020, taking in over 27,200 responses from citizens across all EU countries.

Under the heading of “Food security, safety and quality”, a number of interesting statistics gave an insight into the views of EU citizens in general.

According to the Eurobarometer survey, 92% of EU citizens believe that securing a stable supply of food for the EU is an important priority; meanwhile, 62% of survey participants believed that ensuring the production of safe, healthy food of high quality should be the CAP’s main objective.

When it comes to purchasing food, the survey revealed that EU citizens value short supply chains – 87% of those surveyed regarded this as an important factor when it came to purchasing their food.

Citizens also consider it important that their food is produced in a manner that respects local tradition and ‘know-how’ (87%), and comes from a geographical area that they know (81%), the European study notes.

Although 81% consider it important that their food bears a label that guarantees quality, awareness of EU quality labels have remained relatively low, at between 14% and 20%.

The commission continues to promote its quality schemes such as through the inspired by GIs recipe campaign, the EU initiative adds.

More citizens are now aware of the EU’s organic farming logo, with 56% of respondents recognising the logo, an increase of 29% compared to 2017.

Citizens believe that organic products are more likely to comply with specific rules on pesticides, fertilisers, and antibiotics (82% agreed), are more environmentally friendly (81%), and are produced with higher respect for animal welfare (80%), the survey concluded.