More than 75% of Australians support ban on junk food advertising during children's television programs, nearly half feel that GM foods are safe to eat, and 4% struggling to pay to put healthy food on the table: poll

CANBERRA, Australia , June 14, 2012 (press release) – More than 75 per cent of Australians support a ban on junk food advertising during children’s television programs, nearly half of Australians feel that GM foods are safe to eat, and a small but significant number are struggling to pay to put healthy food on the table, according to the latest ANU Poll which is released today.



The poll, Public Opinion on Food Security and Related Food Issues, probed public views on household food security, eating out habits, health and food safety and genetically modified crops. The poll paints a picture of a nation increasingly eating out rather than cooking at home, concerned about the safety of imported food products and divided about eating GM foods.



The poll also found that a small but significant number of Australians are struggling to make ends meet and put regular, healthy, nutritionally-balanced food on their tables.



Some of the key findings from the poll are:



• Up to 44 per cent of respondents felt that GM foods are safe to eat. Among those who have read a lot about GM foods, 49 per cent felt they were safe to eat.

• However, 54 per cent of respondents said that it was not very likely, or not at all likely, that they would buy foods that are labelled as genetically modified.

• Up to 77 per cent support a ban on junk food advertising during children’s television programmes and 18 per cent oppose all junk food advertising.

• 81 per cent of respondents reported that food products in general are safe to eat, but nearly two thirds of respondents did not feel confident with the safety of food products imported from Asia.

• 8 per cent of the population eat takeaway more than three times each week. Among that 8 per cent men are 50 per cent more likely than women to eat takeaway food.

• Concerns about the economy are not reflected in people’s spending habits, with 37 per cent of respondents eating out more than once a week.

• Up to 16 per cent of respondents said they often or sometimes worried that their food would run out before they had enough money to buy more.

• 13 per cent said they could not afford to eat nutritionally-balanced meals.

• 4 per cent of respondents received emergency food assistance from a charity or other source.



This is the twelfth ANU Poll. ANU Poll is a regular survey of Australian public opinion on matters of national importance. It forms part of the mission of the University to conduct research of the highest quality and to engage with government and the community on public policy issues. This poll was conducted by Professor Stewart Lockie, Head of the School of Sociology in the College of Arts and Social Sciences at ANU and Dr Juliet Pietsch of the School of Politics and International Relations.

