Author: Jeff S. Sharp

Source: Topical report from the Ohio Survey of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Issues

Methodology: A mail survey of nearly 8,000 randomly selected Ohioans was conducted between June and September, 2002. The sample was stratified by region of the state and metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan character of the county to ensure sufficient responses from both rural and urban citizens of the state and enable regional comparisons.

Summary: The primary objective of the study was to measure Ohioans attitudes on a variety of topics related to food, agriculture, and the environment. Over 39 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that food is not as safe as it was 10 years ago. Women were more likely than men to agree with this statement. Sixty three percent of Ohioans did not think imported foods were as safe as foods produced in the United States. Over 37 percent of Ohioans agreed with the statement "Organic foods are safer than conventionally produced foods."

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