Hunter Public Relations recently commissioned our seventh annual survey to find out the most memorable food-related stories of 2009 and the decade.

Food health and safety stories topped the list for 2009, and childhood obesity was voted as the biggest story of the decade.

When conducting the survey this year, we decided to change things up a bit. For the first six years, we asked food editors nationwide to vote for the top food-related stories of the year. But in 2009, after consulting with some of our best media contacts in the industry, we decided to poll a random sampling of Americans for the top stories of the year. In honor of the decade coming to a close, we asked them to vote for the top food-related stories from the past ten years, as well.

We enlisted Wakefield, an independent market research firm, to survey 1,000 Americans aged 18+ via an email invitation and online survey.

Check out the complete list of survey results here.

As a self-proclaimed “foodie” and member of the NYWCA, I am both personally and professionally interested in the ways in which the food industry has evolved and changed over the past ten years.

For the Top Food Stories of The Decade, I was surprised that “Organic Food Becomes Mainstream” wasn’t higher on the list. (It was only ranked #7 out of 10). As a mother of two small children, this is an issue I encounter every day. Whether shopping at the grocery store, online or at the greenmarket, I’m always amazed at the variety of organic foods and brands available to feed my children and myself. Organic food is no longer a trend; it’s a way of life. At least it is in my house.

Amanda