Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Organic Foods

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to find out what knowledge college students have regarding myths concerning organically grown products. Since young adults are often consumers of organic products this study assesses a small sample of young adults enrolled at a private college in central Texas. Literature on organic products and related misconceptions were reviewed. An online survey was distributed in fall 2013 to Baylor students in two Panhellenic sororities. It included questions concerning the participant’s history with purchasing organic products and their knowledge concerning common myths about organic products. The data collected from the survey was analyzed noting which questions were correctly answered. Students in the survey had a 67% misunderstanding about organic produce. The most blatant misconception was that conventionally grown foods use more pesticides than organically grown foods.