Quebecers want agri-food industry’s help to eat better

Dec. 31, 2013, Montreal – A new CROP survey suggested that Quebecers want the agri-food industry to help make it easier to eat healthy.

Some of the obstacles that the Quebecer residents polled said they currently face are a lack of will, diligence and the time needed to cook meals.
According to the CROP survey, which was carried out for Melior, 95 per cent of Quebecer residents recognize that it’s important to eat well even when they lack the diligence to do so.

Those surveyed self-reported that they reward themselves with small snacks (cookies, chips, chocolate) almost every day of the week.
CROP is a marketing and research company. Melior is a program of voluntary commitment that helps agri-food industry businesses increase the nutritional value of their products.

The survey indicates Quebecers are looking to be better informed, with three-quarters of consumers polled saying they read the ingredient and nutritional labels of the foods they purchase and consume.
More than six out of 10 of those surveyed said they are making efforts to limit their intake of ingredients such as fat, sugar and salt, which are considered unhealthy based on current consumption levels.

"A growing number of Quebecers want to better manage their lives. Eating better helps them feel that they are in control of their health," said Youri Rivest, CROP vice-president, in a media release.

The survey indicated that 86 per cent of respondents believe that the industry is responsible for providing them with healthy choices that help improve their health, such as products with reduced salt, fat and sugar.

Additionally, the survey found that 53 per cent of respondents find it difficult to reduce food portions. Nearly six out of 10 Quebecers polled want their favourite chocolate bar available in a smaller size. Of these, 55 per cent are even willing to pay proportionally more for a smaller size.

Ninety per cent of those surveyed said they want to know if a product has been improved in order to make a conscious decision for their health. Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of respondents said they would reward companies that improve their existing products with greater brand loyalty.

"The survey results are very clear. People want to eat better, but they also need the support of the food industry," says Annick Van Campenhout, CEO of the Council for Food Progress Initiatives (CFPI), the body that governs Melior, in a media statement.