Consumers Concerned About Total Sugar Intake

Between 21 and 60 percent of consumers are concerned about total sugars in their diet, according to a new study from Mintel Research Consultancy, exploring consumer attitudes about the 12 highest volume food and beverage categories.

In contrast, no more than 3 percent of consumers expressed concern about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), when considering baked goods, beverages, dairy products and condiments.

Individual category data mirrored data for overall food and beverage decisions, which saw nearly a quarter (21 percent) of respondents expressing concern about consuming fewer total sugars compared to the 3 percent citing HFCS as a specific concern. The research regarding overall decisions shows low consumer interest and no special preference for the type of sweetener used in food and beverage products.

“This year’s study reports category-specific data and further helps dispel a myth regarding consumer concern about HFCS,” said Sara Martens, VP, The MSR Group. “Rather than concern about which nutritive sweetener is added to a product, the study shows consumers care more about avoiding total sugars when making food and beverage decisions.”

According to Martens, “This data suggests that manufacturers would realize a stronger sales increase by reducing overall sugar content than reformulating without HFCS.”

In addition to assessing consumer attitudes, the study also explored their behaviors such as reading labels when purchasing food and beverage products. In this measure, too, more consumers are reading labels for total sugar (31 percent) than HFCS (4 percent), with calories jumping ahead as the information most looked for when reading food and beverage product labels, according to 41 percent of respondents.

“The new data from Mintel accurately demonstrates consumer attitudes because the category study uses a combination of aided and unaided questions,” Martens added. “Studies using unaided questions are more authentic indicators because they document the concerns that are top of mind with consumers.”

 

 

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