Most have some concern over gulf seafood

MINNEAPOLIS, June 28 (UPI) -- Most U.S. adults express at least some concern over the possible effects of the oil spill on Gulf of Mexico seafood, a survey indicates.

The survey, part of an ongoing weekly consumer confidence poll conducted by The Food Industry Center at the University of Minnesota conducted jointly with the Louisiana State University AgCenter, says 99 percent of respondents say they were aware of the oil spill, while 85 percent say they are following the news closely.

The survey says 89 percent acknowledge at least some concern over the gulf's seafood, while 50 percent say they are extremely concerned.

Fifty-nine percent say the possible effects of the spill will have some impact on their consumption of seafood, while 44 percent of that group say they will only eat seafood they know does not come from the Gulf of Mexico and another 31 percent say they will eat less seafood regardless of where it comes from.

"Given the amount of news coverage the oil spill has received, these results may not be surprising, but it does show that consumers are connecting the event to food safety," Dennis Degeneffe, a research fellow at The Food Industry Center, said in a statement.

The ongoing study continuously tracks consumers' perceptions about food safety and the food supply, via telephone surveys of about 175 people each week. The total sample for the six-weeks since the beginning of the oil spill is 1,076.