Organic food brands should not be afraid of using health claims to market their products, as a new study suggests the two concepts are not as incompatible as the industry may fear.
Sales of organic food have slowed in recent years but some are managing to break into the mainstream, bring them a much wider base of consumers – so what are they doing differently from most?
Consumers perceive foods labelled as organic as tastier and healthier than those without organic labels, even if the foods are exactly the same, according to a study published in the journal Food Quality and Preference.
The UK organic food sector remained flat in 2012, but branded goods enjoyed a sales boost as supermarkets shrank their organic private label portfolios, according to the Soil Association.
The European Commission has called for public views on genetically modified (GM) foods in the European Union, as part of a survey examining attitudes to organic agriculture legislation.
The UK’s environment secretary Owen Paterson has called for faster EU approval processes for genetically modified (GM) crops and more public reassurance of its benefits, at a meeting of the nation’s farming industry on Thursday.
Organic logos and claims generally have positive effects on consumers, but even the most positive supporter has negative inferences towards organic products when they are judged on functional health benefits, suggest researchers.
Organically grown carrots may stimulate the immune system, with ‘more’ organic carrots have more of an effect, says a new study that adds to the debate on the health benefits of organic produce.
