Survey Reveals: How Well Do Americans Know Healthy Eating

Eating right helps kids grow up strong and stay healthy. It also helps adults live longer and lowers their chances of getting serious illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. But, here’s the thing: Most people in the United States don’t eat a healthy diet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They said people consume too much sodium, saturated fat, and sugar.

For instance, fewer than 1 in 10 adolescents and adults eat enough fruits or vegetables. Additionally, 6 in 10 young people aged 2 to 19 years and 5 in 10 adults consume at least one sugary drink on any given day.

A survey of 2,000 adults conducted by Talker Research for Zeal Creamery, looked at their food purchasing practices and found that 65% rate their grocery shopping habits as at least somewhat healthy.

When compared to other priorities, healthiness (18%) came fourth, surpassed by cost (64%), quality (36%), and personal and household preferences (19%).

The survey found that 82% opt for products that use “healthwashing” terms. These are labels intended to convey a product’s health benefits like “multigrain” (33%), “sugar-free” (30%) and “organic” (27%). Among those terms, others that respondents view positively are “high-in” (31%) and “free-range” (30%).

While people are most confident in their understanding of “organic” (65%), “sugar-free” (65%) and “multigrain” (64%) products, they’re admittedly less sure when it comes to “reduced” (23%), “fortified with” (22%) and “light” products (21%).

Nearly a third of those surveyed feel overwhelmed by the food labels while shopping (31%).

The survey points out that for many, this leads to misinformation, like the belief that fresh produce is always healthier than canned, frozen or dried options (38%) and that all processed foods are bad (25%).

Similarly, a fifth of respondents mistakenly believe that dairy alternatives such as soy or almond milk are always healthier (21%). Meanwhile, one in eight believe dairy products are unsustainably farmed.

Overall, the top grocery category Americans would be willing to splurge on is organic produce (25%).

Sustainability is an important factor for one in six respondents when grocery shopping.

Yet, few survey-takers were aware that products like rice (7%), soybeans (8%), mineral water (8%), and almond milk (10%) are harmful to the environment. And nearly a fifth view the dairy industry’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions as negative (18%), while most weren’t sure or didn’t believe it had much effect (52%).

Take a look at the complete study here.