Greeks have food for thought
Following a number of food scares last year, three in four Greeks believe the quality of food available in Greece has worsened over the last decade, according to a survey conducted on behalf of Sunday’s Kathimerini. Only 15 percent of those questioned by pollsters VPRC said that they believed the quality of food is better now than it was 10 years ago. Fruit and vegetables on the market appear to be the cause of the most concern, with 63 percent of respondents saying they have little or very little trust in the products on offer. Poultry, eggs and dairy products are next on the list for inspiring the least consumer confidence, with 58 percent saying they have little or very little trust in their quality. Four in 10 of the 600 people polled said they had bought foodstuffs that turned out to be spoiled, but only 6 percent reported the matter. A number of high-profile cases last year, when moldy yogurt and rotten meat in particular were detected, has highlighted issues of food safety in recent months. At the end of last year, the Agricultural Development and Food Ministry said it had blocked almost 1.3 million kilograms of animal products and some 900,000 kilos of vegetable products from being imported into Greece. Almost two weeks ago, health inspectors published a damning report about the state of hygiene at the Varvakeios Market in central Athens after rats and cockroaches were found in a butcher’s storage area. The poll was conducted just before that revelation, on January 11 and 12. The spate of food scares has led many Greeks to rely on their own resources and friends or family for basic foodstuffs. Almost a third of those questioned said they had their own olive oil production. One in five said they had their own supply of eggs and poultry. Although 83 percent of respondents said they had heard of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), 68 percent said they knew nothing or very little about them.
