Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wordpress-seo domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6260 More Americans Choosing Foods, Beverages Based on Healthfulness - Nutraceuticals World

What are you searching for?

Sign in
Market Updates

More Americans Choosing Foods, Beverages Based on Healthfulness

Author Image

By: Sean Moloughney

Editor, Nutraceuticals World

The number of U.S. consumers who consider healthfulness when purchasing their food and beverages has shown a significant uptick in the past two years, according to the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation’s 2014 Food and Health Survey.

Consumer perceptions and behaviors regarding the healthfulness of their diets and level of physical activity are among the survey’s most encouraging findings. While taste and price consistently have been the top two factors that impact consumers’ food and beverage purchases (90% and 73%, respectively), healthfulness in 2014 almost entirely closed the gap with price, rising from 61% of consumers in 2012 to 71% this year, a 10 percentage-point increase.

Certain subpopulations saw greater relative increases than others. Consumers aged 18-34 who cited healthfulness as a driver of food and beverage purchases increased from 55% in 2013 to 66% in 2014, significantly narrowing the gap with other age groups. The nine-point increase among men from 56% last year to 65% this year was a significant gain, as was the increase among those who are not college graduates, 67% of whom reported that their purchasing decisions were impacted by healthfulness, up from 61% in 2013.

“While people’s attitudes about healthfulness in their food and beverage purchases and consumption alone don’t necessarily mean we are a healthier country today than we were a year or two ago, it could signal that we are moving in the right direction,” said Marianne Smith Edge, MS, RD, LD, FADA, senior vice president for nutrition and food safety at the IFIC Foundation. “If perceptions translate into actions, the impact on the health and wellness of our nation could be significant and long-lasting.”

The survey also revealed which nutrients or food components consumers are trying to increase or limit. The components respondents are trying to obtain include: fiber (53%), whole grains (53%), protein (50%), calcium (36%), omega-3 fats (21%), potassium (19%) and probiotics (18%).

Nutrients or components consumers are trying to limit or avoid entirely include: sodium/salt (53%), sugars in general (50%), calories (48 %), fats/oils (29%), caffeine (31%) and mono/polyunsaturated fats (26%).       

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Get the latest Nutraceuticals World news, insights and analysis in your Google Search and AI experiences.

Add Nutraceuticals World as a preferred source on Google (opens in a new tab)

Keep Up With Our Content. Subscribe To Nutraceuticals World Newsletters