In a survey conducted by SurveyGoo of 1,000 adults in the UK and US, 50% of people said they are more likely to buy a product if they can recognize all of the ingredients listed on the label. However, in a sign that their needs are not being met, only 19% of respondents said they always recognize all of the ingredients on the pack.
Demonstrating the risks of this, more than one third of respondents (36%) admitted they are less likely to buy a product made with an ingredient they do not recognize. Conversely, 44% said they are happy pay a higher price for a product when they recognize all of the ingredients it contains.
Ingredient Communications said the findings of the survey show consumers consider clear labeling to be a priority, but also raise questions about how successfully the industry is catering to their preferences.
Richard Clarke, managing director of Ingredient Communications, said, “Ingredients companies have taken big steps forward to optimize their portfolios to include clean label ingredients that can be declared on-pack in clear language that most consumers will recognize. Manufacturers of finished products should consider formulating – or reformulating – their products to include these ingredients, or they risk being left behind.”
Most respondents to the survey, which was conducted in September 2020, also expressed a preference for natural ingredients and an aversion to artificial additives. As many as 81% of consumers said they consider the label claim ‘made with natural ingredients’ to be very appealing or quite appealing. A similar number (78%) said they consider the label claim ‘free from artificial ingredients’ to be very appealing or quite appealing.
Ingredient Communications specializes in global PR and communications for suppliers of ingredients to the food, beverage, dietary supplement and personal care sectors.