Organics, assessing consumer needs

As growth in the organic food industry starts to slow down in Europe, the food industry is deliberating ways to boost sales. A new project launched by the UK food safety agency could provide the answers.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said this week that it is looking to identify areas of study most likely to produce information that would be useful to people when they buy organic food.

Their study has come at the right time with a recent report​ from Organic Monitor revealing that the European market in 2002 reported single-digit growth for organic food products for the first time in years. Assessing labelling issues could be the way to make a difference in sales.

"Slowing market growth rates are causing supply-demand imbalances to become a feature of the global organic food industry. A number of sectors in the European organic food industry are suffering from overcapacity whereas other regions continue to experience product shortages,"​ said Amarjit Sahota, the director of Organic Monitor.

A workshop carried out by the agency last November gave birth to the FSA consultation that proposed that new research should compare the nutrient and pesticide residue content of key organically and non-organically produced fruit and vegetables, as consumed. The objective of the proposal being to inform consumer choice.

According to a statement this week, the FSA is looking to hear​ from members of the public, consumer groups and industry about the areas of research proposed so that it can be sure that any research undertaken 'is of most value to people when they are making choices about food'.

Under the food authenticity research programme, the FSA is already funding the development of analytical methods that could differentiate organic meat and vegetables from non-organic meat and vegetables.