Today, when it comes to choosing food, consumers are increasingly putting health over taste. According to the International Food Information Council Foundation, consumers ranked cardiovascular disease as a priority when it comes to choosing food. Brain function, energy and digestive health are also sought-after benefits in edible products.
Food health perceptions vary depending on factors such as age, socioeconomic status and behavior. Food retailers are now faced with new demands from customers.
Different Approaches in Food Health
Health Ideas for the Next Generation
According to IFIC studies, perceptions of food’s health vary by generation. When purchasing food, those born between late 1940s and mid 1960s tend to pay more attention to calorie counts and nutritional benefits. This age group also focused on ingredients, expiration dates and brand names.
On the other side, millennials (the generation born between 1980 and 2000) are more likely than others to take into account a product’s impact on the environment or animal welfare.
Healthy Home Cooked Food
The consumer believes that home-prepared food is healthier than the pre-prepared meals served in restaurants.
According to the Food Industry Association (FIA), 88 percent of American adults claim that they eat better at home than they do when eating out. The reason for this is that people can control how their food’s cooked and which ingredients they add when preparing meals themselves.
In the same survey, 84 percent (of consumers with children) said that eating at home is “very important or extremely valuable” for their health.
Organic Foods Popularity
According to Pew Research Center’s findings, the majority of Americans believe that “organic” produce is healthier than food produced with chemical fertilizers, artificial pesticides or other agents.
A 2017 Organic Trade Association Report shows that this perception has contributed to an increase in sales of organic-labelled goods. The results showed that sales of organic food and other non-food products in the US reached a record high of $49.4 Billion.
The Importance Of Proper Food Safety
Food safety is a major factor in the purchase and preparation of raw and cooked food. Food safety measures are taken to ensure products that can be eaten and that do not contain contaminants that may cause illness.
Raw meat, for example, is susceptible to cross-contamination, pesticides and bacterial growth. These products can lead to food poisoning and allergy outbreaks if they are not handled properly.
Sanitizing kitchen equipment and supplies is one of the most important methods to ensure food safety. Hands and produce, as well as vegetables and equipment should be thoroughly washed.
To ensure the destruction of bacteria, raw meats must be cooked at their proper internal temperature. Beef should be cooked at least to 145F, and poultry at 165F.
To prevent contamination by allergens or germs, separate all raw and cooked foods in containers. It is crucial to set the temperature of freezers and fridges at 0F or 40F when storing food.
These methods will help to ensure food safety and improve the quality of food products.
Promoting Transparency
Labeling food products should be transparent. This will allow shoppers to choose products that are best suited to their needs.
Transparency allows brands to provide customers with information on their products, mission and production process. Food businesses can build trust with consumers by being transparent. This increases customer loyalty and sales.
What labels do consumers look for?
Labels can be used by retailers to tell customers more about their products. The most common labels include:
- Clean LabelThese labels indicate nutritional values, such as organic food or gluten-free. Clean labels are also products with fewer, more identifiable ingredients.
- Clear LabelThese labels give information about the history of a brand or product, its production and sources of ingredients.
Conclusion
- Consumers’ purchasing and eating habits are influenced by their desire to maintain good health.
- Consumers have different perceptions of “healthy” foods, including home-cooked food, organic products, and food safety.
- These trends are important to understand to make sure that customers are satisfied and marketing strategies are effective.
