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Japan
Japanese Consumers Trust Food Labels Less Than Ever
Japanese consumers distrust labeling of all food products but especially meat in a new survey commissioned by Japan’s Cabinet Office. A recent series of food-labeling scandals reduced the number of participants who trust label information to 29 percent.
The poll, which was conducted by the Japanese Consumers Cooperative Union, reported that 78 of respondents trusted food labels less than they did a year ago.
The survey also found that 92% of Japanese consumers read labels before deciding to purchase a product, consumers want to be notified immediately when laws concerning food are violated and respondents want an official public system through which consumers can register complaints Respondents also indicated that standardizing the label format and using uniform terms on labels would make it easier for consumers to understand the content of products.
An English-language article concerning this survey is on the Japanese Consumers Cooperative Union website at http://www.coop.or.jp/jccu/English_here/news/new_020613_01.htm.