While over half of UK consumers (58%) have more interest in eating healthily than they did a decade ago, one in five still rate their diet as not healthy, and almost a third never check labels for fat and sugar.
This is according to research by Birds Eye for its Better Health Impact report that suggests there is a golden opportunity for the food industry to help the nation better their health by supporting consumers and providing access to “affordable, accessible and nutritious food”.
Other key findings include:
- Compared with a decade ago, 53% of the UK nation is making more of an effort to eat important nutrients such as Omega-3.
- Nearly a quarter (22%) of consumers say they are now much more likely to make an effort to minimise their intake of saturated fat, sugar, and salt compared with a decade ago.
- Sugar causes the greatest concern for consumers, with 40% selecting this as their main ingredient of concern.
- Fruit and vegetables, fish, and beans and pulses are the food groups which consumers most commonly identified as lacking in their everyday diet.
- 68% of consumers report that they do not regularly eat five portions of fruit and veg a day, despite over half (52%) saying they try to.
- Only 12% know that the recommended daily intake of fruit and veg can be achieved by eating fresh or frozen choices, and 50% incorrectly assume that frozen food doesn’t have the same nutritional value as fresh equivalents.
Steve Challouma, General Manager at Birds Eye, commented: “It is clear that consumers want to make healthier choices but many find it hard to do so, and this is down to a number of factors including time pressures, cost concerns, and a lack of confidence about how to make healthier choices. At Birds Eye, our focus is on helping the nation eat a little more goodness every day and we are committed to helping consumers turn their good intentions into a healthier reality.
“We know that the food industry needs to work together to support consumers, and through continued innovation and renovation, we have a golden opportunity to improve the health of the nation in the coming decade. This can be achieved by expanding healthy product ranges, innovating new healthier products, making nutritional improvements to the products we are currently offering and by gently nudging consumers towards more healthy and sustainable diets.”
The frozen food manufacturer highlighted that retailers and brands can also support consumers in making healthier choices through improving the understanding and signposting of healthier options. For example, 39% of consumers are not confident they know the difference between the different types of fat and almost a third never check traffic light labels.
Ahead of the HFSS restrictions coming into place next year, Birds Eye said these findings are particularly relevant for those considering how they can nutritionally optimise products and refocus their advertising efforts on healthier options.
