(06/20/12) -

Governments Should Not Legislate on What We Eat, Say Americans

More than two-thirds of respondents think prohibiting specific foods or drinks will not lead to lower obesity rates.

Adults in the United States believe governments should steer clear of telling them what they can eat, and a large majority believe banning specific foods or drinks will not lead to lower obesity rates, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,018 American adults, three-in-four respondents (74%) believe that America has a serious obesity problem which affects the whole country, while only 15 per cent claim that obesity is confined to specific areas and people.

Several municipalities have passed laws to curb or eliminate the use of specific ingredients in food, such as trans fats. Americans disagree with the rationale for these bans by a 2-to-1 margin, with 60 per cent saying that prohibiting certain foods is unacceptable, because governments should not tell people what they can eat. Only 29 per cent of Americans believe banning certain foods is acceptable, because their consumption can lead to serious health problems.

The Mayor of New York has recently proposed banning the sale of all sugary drinks over 16 ounces in the city. Grocery shops and supermarkets would be exempt from the ban, as well as juices, diet sodas and dairy-based drinks. Three-in-five Americans (60%) voice opposition to this proposed ban, while one-in-three (34%) support it.

Only 22 per cent of respondents think banning specific foods or drinks will ultimately lead to lower obesity rates in the United States. Seven-in-ten Americans (71%) think the bans will not change obesity rates.

While all demographics demonstrate a negative reaction to the idea of banning foods and to the proposed modification for the sale of sugary drinks in New York City, the level of disagreement is less forceful among women and respondents aged 18-to-34.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From June 4 to June 5, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,018 randomly selected American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.