Nils-Gerrit Wunsch
Research expert covering foods trends in North America, Europe, and the global food system
Health and wellness food trends in Europe - statistics and facts
Health and wellness foods have been one of the defining trend topics of the food and drink industry in the past few years. Consumers continue to care deeply about how what they eat, and drink affects their well-being. From the general to the specific, health concerns influence various dietary decisions. In the European Union, about 60 percent of consumers try to actively eat healthy. For some this means cutting down on meat, for others it means cutting artificial flavors and preservatives, and this just scratches the surface.
Health and dietary choices.
Some dietary habits are a direct consequence of health conditions. Prime examples are food allergies and intolerances. Younger consumers are more likely to have food intolerances than older consumers. People in their twenties are the most likely to have one or more food intolerances. Two common food intolerances are lactose and gluten intolerance. Following a lactose-free diet is slightly more common among the European population. Nine percent of survey respondents in the EU stated they were following a lactose-free diet, while seven percent said the same about avoiding gluten in their diet. Not all who eat lactose or gluten-free will have a food intolerance. Vegans, for example, also avoid any dairy products. In part, these consumers adapted their diets because of their personal health conditions. Other consumers adapt their diets to prevent developing health conditions and to retain their health as best as possible.Meat consumption
When asked to name their motivations to reduce red meat consumption, 35 percent of Italian respondents stated that they are concerned about their health. In Spain and Germany, the share of meat eaters who said the same was 29 and 22 percent, respectively. It is not the sole reason to forgo meat, but appears consistently next to environmental and animal welfare concerns as a reason to eat less meat. Per-capita meat consumption in Europe is forecast to decline. Especially read meat, often associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, is looking at a future with reduced consumption figures. Poultry meat is expected to increase its share of the market. Compared to beef and pork, it is expected to see a slight increase in per capita consumption.
