Opinion Surveys on Food & Farming Systems

Surveys reliably show that the American public cares deeply about farm animals and wants them to be protected from suffering. Below are a collection of national polls commissioned by the ASPCA exploring public opinion about farm animals, food labeling and undercover investigations on farms. To learn more or for media inquiries, contact press@aspca.org.

2023 ASPCA® Public Opinion Survey Data Deep Dive: Differences in Attitudes, Knowledge and Purchasing Decisions in Younger Generations 

An analysis of a national, web-based survey of American adults commissioned by the ASPCA and conducted by Ipsos in March 2023 shows that respondents under 30 years of age report higher levels of awareness and concern about the conditions in which farm animals are raised and the impact of factory farming on farmers. These respondents are significantly more likely to shift their purchasing decisions based on this concern.


2023 ASPCA® Public Opinion Survey on Turkey Purchasing Decisions

In March 2023, the ASPCA commissioned a national, web-based survey of 1,000 American adults to gauge public opinion about turkey purchasing decisions around the holiday season and their perceptions of how turkeys are raised.  


2023 ASPCA® Public Opinion Survey on Purchasing Decisions in Supermarkets   

In March 2023, the ASPCA commissioned a national, web-based survey of 1,000 American adults to gauge public opinion about purchasing decisions and demand for higher-welfare products at supermarkets.


2023 ASPCA® Public Opinion Survey on Pet Food Sourcing Standards

In March 2023, the ASPCA commissioned a national web-based survey [PDF] of 1,000 American adults conducted by Ipsos. This survey gauged public opinions about many topics, including the degree to which respondents are interested in pet food with higher farm animal welfare standards.


2023 National Survey on Opinions about Industrial Animal Agriculture

In March 2023, the ASPCA commissioned a national, web-based survey [PDF] conducted by Ipsos to 1,000 American adults. This survey was intended to gauge public opinions about industrial animal agriculture and support for public policy interventions.


2022 Public-facing Survey

A nationally representative online survey of 5,000 adults conducted in June of 2022 confirms widespread public concern about farm animal welfare and underestimation of the scale of factory farming in the US.


2022 Survey on Public Perception of Animal Welfare in the USDA Organic Program

A nationwide, online survey of 1,500 organic consumers [PDF] commissioned by the ASPCA and the Animal Welfare Institute and conducted in September 2022 confirms that the overwhelming majority of organic consumers want higher-welfare standards for animals on organic farms and believe the federal government should implement animal welfare standards quickly.


2020 Survey on COVID-19’s Impact on Public Attitudes Toward Factory Farming

A nationwide, online survey of 1,000 American adults [PDF]  commissioned by the ASPCA and conducted in August 2020 (roughly six months into the pandemic) confirms that this particular crisis has increased public awareness and concern about industrial animal agriculture, changed consumption choices and impacted support for public policies to reform the industry.


2020 Survey on Consumers’ Intentions When Purchasing Animal-Sourced Products with Welfare-Related Labels

A nationally representative online survey of 1,000 American grocery shoppers commissioned by the ASPCA and conducted by Lake Research Partners confirms that consumers who buy animal-sourced foods including meat, eggs and dairy are motivated to seek out and pay for improved animal welfare, but they are confused about which labels represent higher-welfare production practices compared to conventional practices. 


2020 Government Support for Higher Welfare Farming

A nationwide, online survey [PDF] of 1,000 U.S. consumers conducted in January 2020, commissioned by the ASPCA, shows that the public believes that setting and enforcing clear label definitions and supporting farmers transitioning to more humane practices should be a government responsibility.


2019 Certified Eggs: A Certifiable Success Story

A case study [PDF] from data collected by Nielsen in 2016 and 2018 on egg sales shows that the market for welfare-certified eggs is growing while sales of eggs bearing weakly defined or loosely regulated welfare claims, like “natural” and “hormone-free,” are declining and may be increasingly met with suspicion by discerning consumers.


2018 Animal Welfare Labeling and Consumer Concern Survey

This 2018 survey [PDF] followed up on a similar survey conducted in 2016. It shows that an overwhelming majority of consumers continue to be concerned about the welfare of animals raised for food and are making food choices to address this concern.


2018 Technomic Supermarket Retailer Survey

This survey executed by Technomic shows that supermarket industry decision-makers are motivated to stock products that promise better animal welfare, and are seeing the benefits of doing so through strong sales.


2016 Labeling Survey

This 2016 survey shows that the vast majority of Americans are concerned about farm animal welfare and are willing to pay more for better treatment of animals, but are confused by food labels.


2014 Chicken Survey

This 2014 survey shows that consumers overwhelmingly want more humanely raised chicken and wish there were more options in stores.


2014 Organic Survey

This 2014 survey identified big gaps between consumer expectations and USDA requirements for the National Organic Program.


2013 Broiler Chicken Survey

This 2013 survey indicates that once consumers are given information about the conditions in which broiler chickens are raised, confidence in health and safety plummets while concern about chicken welfare and the desire to purchase humanely raised chicken rises dramatically.


2012 Ag-Gag Survey

This 2012 survey indicates that the American public opposes so-called “ag-gag” legislation.

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