Our survey of consumer habits
Post: Spanish Agency for Consumer Affairs, Food Safety and Nutrition
Date: 20 octubre 2017
Section: Consumo
The presentation of the “2017 Survey on Consumer Habits” was held yesterday in Madrid, at the Head Office of the Economic and Social Council (CES)
Present at the opening table were Marcos Peña, President of the CES, the Executive Director of AECOSAN (Spanish agency for Consumer Affairs, Food Safety and Nutrition), Teresa Robledo, and Dolores Flores, Secretary General of the CCU (Board of Consumers and Users), who emphasised the huge value of this work, which will undoubtedly enable a better understanding of the Spanish consumer and the design of tools to improve the areas of action.
The “2017 Survey on Consumer Habits” was conducted by a working group formed by the consumer associations CECU, FUCI, UNAE and CAUCE, together with Mercadona, in the17 Autonomous Communities and in the two autonomous cities forming the Spanish state, with 2556 families surveyed.
Four key areas were studied:
- Purchasing and Consumer Habits
- Purchasing decision. Factors and new trends
- Food Labelling and Healthy habits
- Social responsibility in production and purchasing habits
For 72% of the population surveyed, the economic situation has forced them to change part of their consumer and eating habits, although, from their behaviour, a minor improvement is observed with respect to 2016. The consumer feels that they have enough information about food. 71% confirmed looking for information about a product before purchasing it and finding this information mainly on the label.
The information most valued by consumers in labelling has not changed with respect to 2016 and includes: the best before date, the ingredients, the price, the place of origin and the nutritional information.
With respect to eating habits, 75% of consumers (2% less than in 2016) consider that their habits are healthy and the nutritional information present on the labelling is perfect, the most valued information being about the fat content, followed by sugar and protein content.
In addition, the study confirms a consumer who is aware and sensitive about the issue of food waste. 91% of those surveyed (3% less than last year) consider that food waste is an overriding concern and 83% (4% less than in 2016) state that they are doing something to avoid waste.