Food prices are effecting nutrition decisions across Europe

ISSUED: 15 October 2009

Food prices are affecting nutrition decisions across Europe

Price has become an increasingly important factor in grocery buying decisions in 2009.  A recent survey shows that most European adults are feeling the impact of the economic downturn when they go food shopping.  The findings were released today by ECPA to coincide with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and World Food Day 2009 (16 October 2009).

Price has become much more important in the shopping habits in all the countries surveyed: UK (74%); Spain (78%); Poland (63%); France (72%). As far as fruits and vegetables, the primary indicators of a healthy diet, are concerned France had the highest number of people buying less fruit and vegetables than last year.  Findings indicate that 27% of French consumers are buying less fruit and vegetables than last year, 20% in the UK, 16% in Poland and 15% in Spain.

High priced organic produce is also taking a hit.  While 51% of the respondents in the UK don’t buy organic food, out of those who do 23% are buying less, 19% for cost reasons and 4% for other reasons other than price. In Spain, 28% of the people are buying less organic due to price – note the exception for adults between age 25-34 who are buying 33% less organic food due to price.  The Polish scenario is similar to the Spanish one: 39% are buying less organic food, 30%  due to price. 25% of  the French population are buying less organic for price reasons.

The survey was commissioned by the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) to put the spotlight on how food prices and income effect consumption patterns, with fruit and vegetables being the first to go as people feeling the pinch turn to the cheaper high fat, sugar and carbohydrate diet that is the root cause of obesity, diabetes and heart disease (known as the recession diet). Pest and disease control done in a sustainable way is critical to containing prices at the supermarket because they are a key to maintaining an adequate supply, growing more food per hectare: right now, 61% of Europe’s crops would be destroyed by plant disease without effective pest management.  Fruits and vegetables, the mainstay of a healthy diet, are particularly susceptible to attack.

Doctor Ian Brown, Pesticides Residues Committee Chairman in the UK said in the 2008 Pesticide Residues Committee Annual Report: “As a doctor I cannot state too strongly the importance of eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Scientific evidence shows that the health benefits are far greater than the risk from pesticide residues.”

“Crop productivity is the key to containing food prices,” added Dr. Friedhelm Schmider, Director General of ECPA.  “Right now European agriculture produces more food per hectare than ever before thanks to advances in plant science.  Even so, the economic downturn has shown that people will buy less fruits and vegetables when price becomes the main factor, with proven, predictable consequences in the form of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.  Families in lower income brackets are of course the most affected. The FAO is calling for even greater food productivity on the present agricultural land base to meet the future demand.  Now is the time for Europe to embrace agricultural productivity through helpful scientifically proven technologies.”

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Methodology: “Food in Europe” was commissioned by the European Crop Protection Association and conducted by YouGov plc via an Internet survey 24-28 August 2009 with 1001 adults in France, Poland, Spain and 2020 adults in the United Kingdom. An email was sent to panellists selected at random from a base sample of individuals who agreed to take part in surveys. The responding sample is weighted to the profile of the sample definition to provide a representative reporting sample. The results have been weighted and are representative of all adults (ages 18+) in the countries surveyed.

The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) represents the crop protection industry interests at European level. Its members include all major companies and national associations across Europe. For more information: www.ecpa.eu.

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