Consumer Trends
Consumer trends, insights and preferences
Consumer Trends
Americans worried about quality of Gulf seafood
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has sparked concern among most Americans over the safety of Gulf seafood, according to a continuing survey done by the Food Industry Center at the University of Minnesota.
Consumer Trends
Gender, ethnicity and age play roles in food allergies
Although only about 2.6 percent of Americans (or 7.6 million people) suffer from food allergies, reports the National Institutes of Health, there is evidence that specific demographics may be at greater risk. Factors behind these age, ethnicity and gender discrepancies are not clear yet to researchers, but they have drawn a correlation between food allergy sufferers and asthma attacks.
Do customers really eat the low-fat, low-calorie, low-sodium foods they claim they want restaurants to serve? According to the 2010 Healthy Eating Consumer Trend Report developed by food industry consulting group Technomic, almost 50% of the 1,500 consumers surveyed claim to want healthier foods, but only 25% actually consider nutrition when dining out.
Americans are expressing an increased desire to consume more vegetables, according to “Vegetables & Sides: Culinary Trend Mapping Report,” based on research by the Center for Culinary Development (CCD). And we’re not just talking lettuce and tomatoes here; veggies like kale and brussels sprouts are steadily claiming larger portions of the dinner plate, popping up in menus across the country.