By Andi Anderson
A new national survey reveals that most Americans understand the link between diet and health but still struggle to eat well.
The May Consumer Food Insights Report, released by Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability (CFDAS), highlights this gap between knowledge and action.
The survey included 1,200 consumers across the U.S. It found that while 81% believe improving their diet is key to improving health, many still choose taste and price over nutrition when buying food.
Only those who rate their diets as “excellent” or “very good” consistently read food labels and purchase items like organic or local foods.
Joseph Balagtas, director of CFDAS, said the survey aimed to understand how consumers define “healthy food” and what guides their grocery choices. “Consumers do care about nutrition,” he said, “but taste, affordability, and availability often win out.”
Consumers who rated their diets as “fair” or “poor” said they find it hard to access healthy foods and struggle to understand food labels. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working on a new “healthy” label to help make better food choices easier.
Elijah Bryant, a research analyst and co-author, added that people with poorer diets often value affordability over nutrition. The report also shows that food spending at home increased by $7 in May, while restaurant spending stayed the same. Food inflation remains just under 5%, with a slight drop from April’s index.
Food insecurity rose to 15% in May. Surprisingly, some food-insecure individuals still rated their diets as “excellent,” mostly among younger consumers. Overall, 37% of food-insecure respondents reported poor diet quality.
The report reflects ongoing challenges in helping consumers adopt healthier habits, even when they know better.
Photo Credit: pexels-julia-m-cameron
Categories: Indiana, Rural Lifestyle