German confectionery study finds consumers still rate Easter as a key treating period
As Easter rapidly approaches, Germany’s confectionery body, the BDSI’s latest survey revealed that 84% of the population enjoy giving sweets as a seasonal gift, writes Neill Barston.
According to its recent study, 60% of those questioned would like to select confectionery a key Spring treat, while an even greater number (82%) would send it as a form of thanks to friends and family.
The study also found that 77% of people would give sweets for a birthday, 72% at Christmas, and a total of 61% for souvenirs and invitations to events. Beyond that, 40% would typically give such treats on Mother’s Day, followed by Valentine’s Day (29%) and Halloween (24%).
Concerns over advertising bans
Meanwhile, the BDSI has also expressed its concern at proposals from the German Alliance of Noncommunicable Diseases (DANK) requiring Advertising bans that would apply to a number of food categories including confectionery – which the organisation does not believe would tackle the societal problem of obesity.
Instead, the confectionery authority said that a more effective means of engaging with children in particular to strengthen their media skills to ensure they are more aware of responsible consumption.
“No one gets slimmer or leaner by not advertising for confectionery healthier, “says Dr. Carsten Bernoth, General Manager of the BDSI. “The increased media usage among children and young people, apart from Age limits of the platform providers, politics and society finally have to Take the opportunity to strengthen media skills. Advertising bans are pure here Window dressing.
”In addition, media use is usually more associated with physical Inactivity, which in turn leads to lower energy consumption and thus contributes to a risk of obesity. This was revealed in a study by the World Health Organisation from 2019. Sweets are enjoyable products for the little joys in everyday life. Just like any other food, if they are enjoyed in moderation, they have their place in a balanced diet, which consumers do understand.”
Moreover, the development of obesity is a complex process which include socio-economic factors, lack of exercise, unbalanced diet, genetic predisposition and psychosocial aspects involved. Just the consumption of individual foods or advertising looking at individual foods as the cause does not solve the problem.
The BDSI welcomed educational measures to resolve the problem, and following the pandemic, it believed that schools should practical nutrition education for students should be given a greater focus.
