Food Perceptions, Beliefs, and Behaviors Amid a Global Pandemic Results of the International Food Information Council 2021 Food & Health Survey

Abstract

The International Food Information Council (IFIC) is keenly interested in public perceptions of topics related to health, nutrition, food safety and agriculture. The International Food Information Council's signature consumer research effort, the annual Food & Health Survey, has captured the opinions, behaviors, and beliefs of the American population on these topics since 2006. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted Americans' behaviors and perspectives around food, creating an opportunity to explore specific impacts of this ongoing event. This overview of the results of the 2021 Food & Health Survey, conducted in the shadow of a global pandemic, aims to assess both general consumer trends and how COVID-19 has shaped the way we think about our food choices. Topics include eating and snacking habits, shopping trends, health priorities and their connection to food choices, the influence of food labeling and the impact of food production and sustainability on food purchasing decisions.