Sugar – friend or foe?
Consumers perceive sugar as both a ‘friend and foe’ in their nutrition, according to new consumer research commissioned by functional ingredients manufacturer Beneo.
More than 5,000 consumers across five European countries were surveyed on their perception of sugar, carbohydrates and nutrition with regard to blood glucose response.
The results show that consumer health concerns in order of importance are weight management (43%), fatigue or low energy (36%) and stress (35%). Consumers are aware that the amount and type of sugars, as well as carbohydrates in general, play a major role in coping with these health issues.
Consumers’ main motivation for sugar reduction in their nutrition was because of its negative effects on their health. 58% of those respondents who wanted to eat less sugar said that their major driver was to control their weight. Also, the detrimental long-term effects of sugar consumption such as diabetes were a concern, being mentioned by nearly one out of three consumers who were trying to cut their sugar intake.
Although wanting to reduce the amount of sugar consumed, respondents were not prepared to forego the feeling of sugar like indulgence; 60% said that they ate sugar because they liked the taste and one out of three participants (33%) responded that sugar improved their overall mood.
