Almost anyone you ask will tell you that eating a healthful diet is important—a sentiment that isn’t new. So why is there a seemingly heightened focus on clean eating? A contributing factor is the convergence of several macroenvironmental forces:
The Nielsen Global Health and Ingredient-Sentiment Survey polled more than 30,000 online respondents in 63 countries to understand how consumers feel about the foods and beverages available on store shelves. We examined respondents’ self-reported dietary restrictions, including food allergies or intolerances, and the extent to which current offerings are meeting their needs. We also looked at consumer sentiment across 22 different ingredients to uncover what consumers want on store shelves.
Nearly two-thirds of global respondents (64%) say they follow a diet that limits or prohibits consumption of some foods or ingredients, and the rates are even higher in certain regions.
Percentage who say they follow a special diet that limits or restricts specified foods or ingredients