Industry News – AM
Consumption of low-sodium foods declines: study
By Tom Johnston on 4/26/2010
Consumers express more concern about the amount of sodium in their diets than they accordingly change their eating habits, according market research by the NPD Group.
The study comes as food processors increasingly pledge to reduce sodium levels in their foods and the Food and Drug Administration faces pressure to set sodium-level limits.
Although NPD says anxiety over salt has risen in recent years, the group’s data dating back to 1992 shows that concern is significantly lower than it was two decades ago and consumption of low-sodium and sodium-free foods has steadily declined. In 2009, some 30 percent of homemakers (primary meal preparers) said they were concerned while per-capita eatings of low-sodium and sodium-free foods were 40. In 1992, the corresponding numbers were about 40 percent and 81 percent.
“In my 30 years of observing Americans eating behaviors, there is often a gap between what consumers say and what they do,” Harry Balzer, chief industry analyst at The NPD Group, said in a news release. “It’s easier to aspire to a positive behavior than to actually do it.”
Industry News – AM
Organic beef, poultry post sales gains despite recession
By Ann Bagel Storck on 4/23/2010
Organic meat, poultry and seafood posted 2009 sales of $456 million, a 1.9 percent increase over 2008 figures, according to the Organic Trade Association’s 2010 Organic Industry Survey.
Organic poultry, which represents the largest part of that subcategory, has sales of $277 million, up 2.6 percent from 2008. Organic beef recorded $100 million in sales, a 1.5 percent jump from the previous year, while organic pork had $14 million in sales, down 4.3 percent.
Overall organic food sales were $24.8 billion, representing a 5.1 percent year-over-year growth rate, compared with 1.6 percent growth for total U.S. food sales in 2009, OTA reported.
Organic fruits and vegetables posted the highest sales growth rate, rising 11.4 percent from 2008, to nearly $9.5 billion in sales.
“These findings are indicative that even in tough times, consumers understand the benefits that organic products offer and will make other cuts before they give up products they value,” OTA Executive Director Christine Bushway said in a news release.
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