More than 4,000 Americans were surveyed by Danone North America in 2023, to find out the importance of access to nutritious foods for the most significant barriers to nutrition.
According to the results of the survey, ahead of jobs and environment, and on a par with health care, food accessibility, the availability of high-quality, safe, affordable food, is top-of-the-mind for the respondents, especially among lower-income ones.
More than 80% of those surveyed expressed that better access to nutritious foods would result in a higher quality of life, feeling better, having more energy, and overall improved physical health and well-being. 76% of respondents, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, with the perception of the link between nutrition and mental health, think what they ate affected their mental/emotional state, and 78% of the opinion that their food choices are affected by their mental health.
When it came to foods that those polled described as nutritious, yogurt ranked among the top 5 foods Americans associated with good nutritional value. Plant-based milk alternatives were also in the top 5 list among consumers from multicultural backgrounds.
For 79% of those polled, economics was a significant barrier to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, so cutting back on purchases made it more difficult to maintain a healthy diet. They also believe that more access to nutritious foods would enhance childhood development, improve health disparities, and reduce healthcare costs.
Reference:
