Comparative study of food security consciousness and sensibility of inhabitants of the city of Santos, SP

Abstract

Use of Chemical pesticides resulted in resistance among insects and weeds, in addition to
negative impact on health and environment. The research aimed to evaluate consciousness
and sensitivity of different categories of food consumers and traders of the city of Santos,
SP. Structured and closed interviews were applied in three districts, involving interviewees of
conventional and organic fairs, which were distributed in three age categories and three schooling
levels. All organic fairs of the three districts revealed a highest percentage of consumers
with a higher level of schooling, in comparison with the conventional ones, indicating direct
correlation between understanding the risk of pesticides and the educational level. Among the
conventional fairs, graduates interviewees revealed no consciousness, although they know the
meaning of “chemical pesticides”. Preferring organic food is not a matter of age nor a financial
facility; it is a question of consciousness and sensitivity.