IFIC Spotlight Survey: Public Perceptions Of Food Ingredients
June 13, 2023
Research Type
Topics
The International Food Information Council (IFIC) commissioned an online research survey with consumers based in the US to measure knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about food ingredients. One thousand adults aged 18+ years completed the survey from May 4-9, 2023, and responses were weighted to ensure proportional results.
Top findings include:
- Six in ten Americans say they usually consider ingredients when choosing foods to buy.
- Consumers choose where they shop based largely on the quality of foods offered and the price of foods sold. A variety of foods is also a top purchase-driver, while ingredients are less important.
- When deciding which foods to purchase, people tend to choose those they consider to be good for them; this consideration outweighs choosing “familiar ingredients.”
- Health and safety are the top reasons people avoid certain ingredients.
- For those who believe some ingredients are unsafe to eat, more than four in ten believe those ingredients will have long-term impacts on their physical health.
- Nearly three in ten assume an unknown, chemical-sounding ingredient is not safe to consume.
- When it comes to foods containing naturally occurring compounds that may pose dangers (e.g., arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury), consumers are most concerned about seafood—with baby food a close second.