RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A Virginia Tech study highlights the paradoxical behavior of Americans when it comes to beliefs about eating plants and food choices.
Researchers in the Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Exercise at Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences conducted a survey about Americans' beliefs about the value of eating more plants for health and environmental reasons.
The study found that while the majority of Americans recognize the health and environmental benefits of eating a plant-rich diet, only about a quarter are actively adopting them. It wasn't too much.
Across all years surveyed, 73% of Americans said plant-based protein was healthy, and 39% said animal-based protein was healthy.
According to Virginia Tech, researchers scrutinized more than 10 years of responses from a national survey collected by the International Food Information Council from 2012 to 2022 to find out more than 1,000 people about their plant-rich eating habits in each year of the survey. The study analyzed respondents' perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors. .
The study showed that the percentage of Americans who reported following a plant-rich dietary pattern more than doubled from 12.1% to 25.8% from 2019 to 2022 over the years surveyed. . A plant-rich diet is described as a diet that ranges from vegan to vegetarian.
Across all years surveyed, younger consumers, such as Gen Z and Millennials, are more likely to follow plant-rich patterns than older consumers, such as Gen X, baby boomers, and the silent generation. it was high.
However, research shows that about a quarter of Gen Z and Millennials report an increase in red meat consumption in the past year, compared to 10% of older adults. That's what it means.
Additionally, the percentage of people who said they were eating more red meat increased from 13% to 19% from 2020 to 2022.
According to the study, sustainability consistently ranks as the least important factor in Americans' food and beverage purchasing decisions, after convenience, price, healthfulness, and taste.
Less than a quarter of respondents said they had intentionally purchased food labeled with:
- Organic, 27% of respondents
- Locally produced, 26% of respondents
- 21% of people say it is environmentally friendly
- Plant-based, 16% of respondents
The survey found that nearly two-thirds of respondents find it difficult for consumers to know how their food and drink choices impact the environment.
Additionally, the survey found that most respondents said they would have more influence on their choices if they had easier access to information about the environmental impact of food and beverages.
To view the entire study, please visit Virginia Tech website.
