A CHOICE survey has found consumers are confused about different beef labels.

The survey found 83 per cent of respondents said it was important to know whether food was ethically produced, but 91 per cent said there was not enough information about ethical production.

CHOICE food policy advisor Angeral McDougall said consumers may not understand what the different production methods were.

"When people order grain-fed steak they may not realise that this means cattle are in a feedlot for 60 or 70 days on a protein-rich diet with the primary objective of fast weight gain,'' Ms McDougall said.

Estimates fro Meat and Livestock Australia show Australian spent about $6.7 billion on beef in 2010-11.

"Understanding the meaning of different steak descriptions can help shoppers decide what's important to them - for some it's the ethical concerns like animal welfare and sustainability, while for others it might come down to value for money or taste,'' Ms McDougall said.

In October last year 743 CHOICE members responded to a food labelling survey.