The majority of European consumers are inclined to turn towards more sustainable food, but they face obstacles, including price, according to the results of a survey published on 3 June by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), two weeks after the publication of the EU’s ‘Farm to Fork’ sustainable food strategy (see EUROPE 12491/3).
The survey was carried out by BEUC member organisations among a representative sample of more than 11,000 consumers in 11 countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain) before the coronavirus crisis.
It shows that two thirds of consumers say they are willing to change their eating habits for environmental reasons.
As obstacles, most consumers cite price first, but also lack of knowledge, unclear information and a limited choice of sustainable products.
Slightly more than 40% of consumers say they have stopped or reduced their consumption of red meat for environmental reasons. As a substitute for animal proteins, insects and laboratory meat have limited appeal. They prefer vegetable “burgers” and legumes.
Only 16% of consumers feel that their government sufficiently encourages sustainable food, both in terms of production and consumption.
“Governments and consumer groups have a key role to play in raising consumer awareness that more sustainable food does not have to be more expensive. But this has to go hand in hand with changes in eating habits, such as reducing meat consumption, wasting less and replacing bottled water with tap water, for example”, says BEUC’s executive director, Monique Goyens. She believes that the Commission should stop funding campaigns to promote meat consumption.
To read the report: https://bit.ly/304Xi2L (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)