Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Addresses Public Misconception About Gulf Seafood Safety

Strategic Insights -

Results from a recent survey conducted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services suggest that a significant portion of Floridians remain concerned about the safety of Gulf seafood, despite rigorous testing and a multi-faceted marketing campaign to alleviate public misperceptions. The Department's Director of Marketing, Nelson Mongiovi, presented the survey's results to the Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Commissioner Putnam at a Cabinet meeting in Panama City, emphasizing the importance of correcting this public misconception. According to Commissioner Adam Putnam, the Department has tested 230 samples of Florida seafood and found no concerns to the public, highlighting the safe and available nature of Florida seafood.

Key Takeaways:

  • 63% of Floridians remain concerned about the safety of Florida Gulf seafood, an increase from 48% since a similar survey was conducted in January 2010. (Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
  • A majority of Floridians (59%) are concerned about unforeseen risks of the oil spill on the safety of Florida seafood, an increase from 49% from the previous survey. (Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
  • Nearly half, or 46%, of Floridians expressed concern about the long-term availability of Florida Gulf seafood. (Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
  • The Department's Chemical Residue Lab has screened 230 samples to date, including finfish, shrimp, crabs, lobsters, and oysters, and less than 11% were found to have traces of possible oil contaminants. (Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
  • All findings of traces are less than 1/1000th of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) levels of concern. (Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
  • The Department's "Gulf Safe" marketing campaign aims to correct public misperceptions about the safety of Florida seafood and promote the message "Enjoy With Confidence." (Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
  • The campaign features a full-page ad in the Florida edition of USA Today, web ads, a 30-second television PSA, and billboards with the "Florida Gulf Safe" logo. (Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)

Statistics:

  • 230 samples tested for oil contaminants by the Department's Chemical Residue Lab (Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
  • Less than 11% of samples found to have traces of possible oil contaminants (Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
  • 63% of Floridians remain concerned about the safety of Florida Gulf seafood (Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
  • 59% of Floridians concerned about unforeseen risks of the oil spill on the safety of Florida seafood (Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
  • 46% of Floridians concerned about the long-term availability of Florida Gulf seafood (Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)

Sources:

  • Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
  • FreshFromFlorida.com
  • Facebook.com/adamputnam
  • Twitter.com/adamputnam
  • USA Today Florida edition