Food Safety Consumer Confidence Poll

The GAM-sponsored survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers, conducted in mid-May, indicates that consumers already have a significant amount of confidence in the nation's meat and poultry supply, however, their confidence level could increase even higher once a NAIS is implemented.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently unveiled a NAIS proposal that calls for mandatory reporting of the movements of cattle, hogs, poultry and other meat-producing livestock by January 2009.

More than 37% of the survey respondents rated their current meat safety confidence as high - at least eight on a 10-point scale with 10 being the highest. Only 10% of respondents rated their confidence as low with a rating between 1-3. The average rating by respondents was between 6.5 on a 10-point scale.

According to the survey, average consumer confidence in meat safety and security would jump to 7.4 if NAIS were to be implemented. Almost 55% of those surveyed said their confidence would be high (8-10) while 4% said their confidence would remain low (1-3).

Jim Heinle, president of GAM said, "We are glad to know that consumers feel good about the integrity of the meat and poultry supply – as they should." "The industry at all levels has worked hard to protect animal health and provide safe products. This survey shows that the ability to trace livestock diseases through a national identification system may be a tool to raise consumer confidence even further."

Global Animal Management, Inc., is a subsidiary of Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation, the worldwide animal health business of the Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP). Schering-Plough is a global, science-based health care company with leading prescription, consumer and animal health products. Through internal research and collaboration with partners, Schering-Plough discovers, develops, manufactures and markets advanced drug therapies to meet important medical needs. Schering-Plough’s vision is to earn the trust of the physicians, patients and customers served by its more than 30,000 people around the world. The company is based in Kenilworth, N.J., and its Web site is www.schering-plough.com.

Editor’s notes:
· VeriSource® is a registered trademark of Global Animal Management, Inc. Additional information about VeriSource® can be found at www.mygamonline.com.
· GAM™ is a trademark of Global Animal Management, Inc.
· The GAM consumer confidence poll was conducted May 11-16, 2005, by Synovate eNation. The survey included 1,000 U.S. consumers, with a +/- 3 percent margin of error on a nationalsample. For additional information about survey results, contact Julie Lux, (908) 298-4774.
· Additional information on NAIS is available on USDA’s Web site at http://www.usda.gov/nais.