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Consumers desire transparency in food production

A food industry leader says most people know very little about antibiotic use and resistance in livestock. Rick Stein is Vice President of Fresh Foods with the Food Marketing Institute.

“Coming out of the 80’s and 90’s they know that in humans, over antibiotic use is not good. So when they see a headline on antibiotic use, that immediately raises their radar,” says Stein.

Stein says consumers today are more particular about their buying choices, but also hungry for information about how their food is produced.

“The consumer that can afford a certain level has the choice to make that and a consumer that can afford a higher level has a choice to make that. So I think it’s imperative, as an industry that we begin to describe all the new laws, all the new protocols to ensure that they’re getting safe food,” says Stein.

Stein says farmers need to be diligent in following rules like the Veterinary Feed Directive because consumers have an expectation for transparency in food production systems.

Stein was featured at a National Pork Industry Forum in Atlanta sponsored by the National Pork Board.