Veggies For Vim – results of a consumer survey – Brief Article – Statistical Data Included
Laura Shanahan
Most shoppers say, “Show me the green,” when selecting foods for specific health benefits. According to the survey Shopping For Health 1999: The Growing Self-Core Movement, when asked to name one of the products they purchased with health in mind, 3 in 10 shoppers named a vegetable, including, among others, broccoli (9%), spinach (20%), lettuce (2%) and carrots (2%).
Fruit’s a popular choice among 28%. Specific ones cited include bananas (4%), citrus varieties (4%), orange juice with and without added calcium (3%) and apples (2%). The study noted that shoppers are somewhat sophisticated in linking their selections with specific health issues. For example, many include broccoli, spinach and carrots on their list, especially to reduce risk of cancer. The majority of banana-choosers say they pick the fruit for its potassium, and many named orange juice as a good source of the vitamin useful in preventing colds. (But could they say “vitamin C”?)
Oatmeal (4% go for the glop) was also a hot topic: Shoppers chose it, along with other cereals, as a good food to lower cholesterol and up fiber intake.
COPYRIGHT 1999 BPI Communications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group
