Ever Evolving Eating Habits Are Determining The Global Food Trends

Home has become an alternative venue for enhanced social occasions that fit changed lifestyles and budgetary realities. Nearly 43 per cent of consumers stated that they have eaten more at home in the past twelve months

Global consumer research shows an increasing interest in ingredients. One in three consumers globally will say that they always look at ingredients of interest on product packs. When asked about which ingredient is most important to them, protein was chosen by 42 per cent of consumers.

Many consumers opine that companies have more responsibility towards the environment than just sustainability, requiring actions that make a positive difference to nature protection. When asked about what they would like to see companies do to help environmental causes, the number one choice was nature protection.

Companies are taking notice of these consumer demands and changing patterns. Between 2020 and 2023, there has been a 37 per cent increase in the growth of food and beverage with a forest protection-related claim, and a 40 per cent increase in products with a water-usage claim.

Companies are also leveraging more sustainable farming practices when producing their products. Agro-biodiversity (crop diversification for planetary health and food security) is on the rise, with companies such as Bayer betting big on crop gene editing to ‘survive and thrive’ amid climate uncertainty.

Consumers are also taking positive action to prevent health concerns before they arise, driving them to products that meet their personal wellbeing needs. More than one in three consumers claims to be proactive in preventing health issues. More specifically, they see weight management, heart health, and bone and joint health as their most important physical health concerns. Products can already be seen on the market addressing these concerns, such as Beeza Peanut Butter claiming to help with weight management and improve heart health.

This top food trend sees plant-based products working their way into well-known dishes and formats, offering familiarity and clarity to consumers who are keen to embrace plant-based products. Half of consumers globally say that familiar culinary formats are important for them when buying plant-based products.

When looking at the most popular formats for plant-based foods, fingerfoods and ready-made meals are seeing growth in the past three years. Fingerfoods is the format where consumers are most open to trying plant-based meat and poultry products, while ready meals are not far behind.

The ‘local goes global’ food trend is based on local ingredients, as well as authentic and adventurous foreign dishes spreading across the globe. Products advertising ingredients sourced locally, as well as dishes deemed foreign and authentic are growing in popularity.

Two in three consumers globally say that they are open to trying new global cuisines. African cuisine products have seen a rise of 13 per cent in the past five years, while East Asian cuisine products have risen by five per cent.

Consumers are also concerned with choosing products that use local ingredients, with more than half of them stating that they actively look for them. Additionally, honesty and transparency of ingredients was chosen most often by consumers as the most important value relating to their diet.

Home has become an alternative venue for enhanced social occasions that fit changed lifestyles and budgetary realities. Nearly 43 per cent of consumers stated that they have eaten more at home in the past twelve months, while only 15 per cent state that they ate out more. Additionally, value for money and health benefits are seen by most consumers as the most important aspects when eating at home.

Consumers are also more likely to experiment when cooking at home. When asked when they are most likely to experiment in terms of flavor, home cooking was by far the number one choice, opined three in five consumers.

The seas are developing into the farms of the future, providing inspiration alongside new, environmentally positive ingredient sources.

The oceans are increasingly being looked at as untapped potential for sustainable ingredients. Ingredients such as kelp and spirulina are growing in popularity, and between 2020 and 2023, new food and beverage launches containing microalgae grew by 42 per cent.

Seafood products are also demonstrating their sustainability through claims such as “sustainably sourced,” and complying with terms set by ocean focused organizations such as MSC or Friend of the Sea to use their sustainability labels on products.

Health benefits and exciting endorsements are leading the way when it comes to carving out a strong future for hydration products. Soft drink and sports nutrition launches with a hydration-related claim have risen by 10 per cent over the last three years.

In “Indulging in Health,” there may be a difficult line to cross regarding healthy ingredients, and indulgent tasting treats. At a certain point, companies may struggle to create increasingly healthier indulgent products without sacrificing too much on flavor and texture.

Consumer interest in combining health with indulgence may also begin to wane over time, with healthy benefits coming from a multitude of other products on the market.