December 2011 Articles

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2011 Food and Health Survey - Consumer Attitudes Towards Food Safety, Nutrition

2011 Food and Health Survey – Consumer Attitudes Towards Food Safety, Nutrition and Health
The International Food Information Council Foundation Food & Health Survey provides ongoing insights into how consumers view their own diets, their efforts to improve them, their understanding of food components in their diets and safe food preparation.
Compared to previous years, more Americans (approximately half) perceive their overall diet as “somewhat” healthful. At the same time, while a majority of Americans are still making changes in their diet, fewer Americans report making dietary changes in 2011 (59% compared to 64% in 2010).
Significantly fewer Americans are concerned with their weight status this year. Still 69% of Americans are trying to lose or maintain their weight and cite these as strong factors influencing their decision to make dietary changes and remain physically active.
More Americans this year report that their physical activity levels are sedentary (43%) – a significant increase from 2010 (37%).
When asked about their awareness of the concept of sustainability in food production, 58% say they have read or heard at least “a little” about sustainability in food production.
Forty-eight percent believe that advances in modern food technology have provided or will provide future benefits for themselves and their families.
Eight-eight percent believe that fortified foods and foods with added benefits have at least some impact on overall health.
Fifty-one percent are confident in the safety of the U.S. food supply. Sixty-one percent believe that imported food is less safe than foods produced in the U.S.
Taste and price are the most important factors for Americans when deciding what to order in a restaurant.
While taste prevails and continues to be the main driver of purchasing foods and beverages in 2011 (87%), the price of food is increasingly becoming important for American consumers. Source: www.aragriculture.org