Survey Says? Less Than One in Four People Would Knowingly Eat 3D Printed Food Products

According to a survey from the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, the odds are that if you knew a piece of food on your plate was 3D printed, you wouldn’t be all that eager to chow down.

The Chubb Group asked that specific question as part of its 2015 Consumer Perceptions of Business Risk Survey. The actual response was that just 23% of the people queried would pick up a fork, but the respondents were much more receptive of the idea of using other 3D printed objects.

“Consumers also are embracing many of the products and services being developed through new technologies, but they clearly are concerned about how companies are managing the emerging risks of such innovation,” says Steven Hernandez, the worldwide loss control manager for the Chubb Group.

A whopping 77% of those asked said they could see themselves using a 3D printed synthetic or prosthetic limb like an arm, leg, or hand, and a solid 64% said they’d consider wearing shoes or clothing produced by a 3D printer. A somewhat less overwhelming 58% said they’d consider using a 3D printed automotive part, while just over half of respondents were comfortable with the idea of living in a printer-built house, with 51% open to the idea.

But there are a small number of holdouts completely unconvinced that the technology is useful in any way, as some 8% said they would never use any products which came hot off a 3D printer.

Fully 60% of those polled admitted to being either extremely or very concerned about the safety of 3D materials and the objects built with them, while 54% said they were equally concerned about the durability and performance of 3D printed items.

The Chubb Group survey asks consumers to rate how well businesses protect their customers and workers from risk when it comes to situations created by new technologies.

Fully 59% percent of the survey respondents said they wouldn’t have a problem if drones were used to inspect utilities, facilities, or property in remote areas, but just 48% of them thought permitting those drones to take aerial pictures of property was an acceptable use.

The idea of using personal wearable devices while working in construction, utilities, or corporate settings was less than popular as well, with just 41% agreeing with that idea.

This survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, the independent public opinion and market research firm, during March of this year.

Chubb Group provides property and casualty insurance to customers worldwide through a network of independent agents and brokers, and the company is made up of several separately incorporated insurance companies under common ownership through The Chubb Corporation.

Where do you stand on the idea of 3D printed food and the safety of 3D printed products? Let us know in the 3D Printed Food forum thread on 3DPB.com. Check out more of a look at 3D printed foodstuffs below.