Price perceptions and food label confusion remain barriers to achieving healthier diets
24 February 2012 - 4:59AM
PR Newswire (Canada)
Loblaw Companies livelivewell™ survey reports Albertans top the
list of Canadians making healthier eating choices; other prairie
provinces and Quebec rank lowest BRAMPTON, ON, Feb. 27, 2012 /CNW/
- - Two thirds of Canadians (67%) say they are making healthier
eating choices than one year ago, reveals the Loblaw Companies
Limited livelifewell™ survey, compiled from a national online poll
conducted by Vision Critical for Loblaw Companies Limited.
The survey results highlight where Canadians stand when it comes to
making healthier eating choices, from nutritional attributes they
seek most, to challenges they face and who they go to for support
on adopting healthier lifestyles - and the results offer food for
thought. "While healthier eating behaviours and perspectives vary
across the country, overall the survey reveals that Canadians are
eating more fresh foods and trust dietitians and doctors for advice
on healthy living. However, there is still progress to be
made as price and food label confusion remain the top barriers to
achieving healthier diets," says Alexis Williams, dietitian for
Loblaw Companies Limited. Healthy Bites From Across the Nation --
Albertans have made the biggest change, with 81 per cent of
respondents saying they are making healthier eating choices than
they were one year ago. -- In the Atlantic provinces, 70 per cent
of respondents are making healthier eating choices now than they
were one year ago. -- British Columbia and Ontario were nearly tied
with 68 per cent and 67 per cent of residents, respectively, making
healthier eating choices over the past year. -- In Quebec, 63 per
cent of residents said they are making healthier eating choices
over the last year. -- Residents of Manitoba and Saskatchewan made
the fewest changes to their eating habits over the past year with
58 per cent reporting that they are now making healthier eating
choices compared to one year ago. -- More British Columbia
residents reduced their sugar intake than residents of any other
province (41%). -- Quebec residents reduced their fat intake more
than any other province (37%). -- Canadians over 55 years of age
reduced the sodium and fat in their diets at the highest rate (both
at 38%). -- When looking for healthy lifestyle information,
Canadians said family doctors (52%) and nutritionists/dietitians
(46%) are their most trusted sources of healthy lifestyle
information, yet less than one in 10 Canadians turned to a
nutritionist or dietitian as a source of healthy living information
and only one-quarter turned to their doctor in the past year. "Many
Canadians are unsure of where to go for advice on healthy living
and nutrition, and may feel that individual guidance from a
nutritionist or dietitian is inaccessible to them," says
Williams. "That's what makes the in-store dietitian program
at Loblaw banner stores so convenient - being able to pick up
dinner and talk to a dietitian in one stop, under one roof is a
unique offering for customers. With a few minutes of
one-on-one time, we can help provide tools for healthier choices
that will last a lifetime." Men and women both report making
healthier eating choices. Women are leading the charge at 70
per cent, compared to 64 per cent of men. Younger Canadians aged 18
to 34 are most likely to have made changes to their eating habits
in the past year, reporting at 70 per cent compared to 67 per cent
of Canadians aged 35-54 and 64 per cent of Canadians 55 years and
older. At 39 per cent the most common change that Canadian report
is adding more fresh foods Almost one in three Canadians (32%) are
also working to reduce the amount of fat (32%), sugar (31%) and
sodium (30%) in their diet. But, while the majority of Canadians
have improved their eating choices, some report frustrating
barriers - the most common being the perception that healthier food
is more expensive. In fact, 41 per cent of respondents
reported price as a barrier to making healthier eating
choices. Taste and knowledge about more nutritious options
were also recognized as barriers (both 11%), demonstrating clear
gaps in understanding the options and resources available to them.
Half of Canadians look to food labels for information to help them
make healthy lifestyle choices and certain brands take a lot of the
guesswork out of the decision making for customers. The
newly-designed packaging of PC(®) Blue Menu(®) products, featuring
new plus (+) and minus (-) symbols makes it easier for customers to
identify nutritional attributes. Now customers can see what
the products contain more of, or less of, right away. Want to know
more? Alexis Williams, a registered dietitian who develops health
and wellness services and programs for Loblaw, including the
in-store dietitians program offered at selected Loblaw banner
stores, is available to discuss the survey findings with media and
offer: -- Insight into survey results and trends in healthier
lifestyles among Canadians -- Tips to choose healthier foods and
get around the most common barriers to healthy eating -- Easy ways
to increase fibre and omega-3 intake and decrease sodium, fat and
sugar -- Ingredient substitutions to pack more nutrition into
family favourites -- Ways to get the most out of your relationship
with grocery store pharmacists and dietitians *One-on-one
counseling with dietitians is available in 18 Loblaws(®) and Real
Canadian Superstore(®) locations across Ontario. About the survey
Vision Critical conducted an online survey on February 1, 2012
among 1,004 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid
forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling
variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been
statistically weighted according to the most current education,
age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample
representative of the entire adult population of Canada.
Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding. About
Loblaw Companies Limited TSX: L Loblaw Companies Limited, a
subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada's largest food
retailer and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise
and financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest
private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000 corporate
and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its
franchisees employ more than 135 000 full-time and part-time
employees. Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is
committed to providing Canadians with a wide, growing and
successful range of products and services to meet the everyday
household demands of Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the
quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It offers
Canada's strongest control (private) label program, including the
unique President's Choice®, no name® and Joe Fresh® brands. In
addition, the Company makes available to consumers President's
Choice Financial® services and offers the PC® points loyalty
program. Product samples, regional versions of the President's
Choice(® )Insider's Report(® )and high-resolution images are
available. Loblaw Companies Limited CONTACT: or to arrange an
interview please contact:Loblaw Companies
Limited905-459-2500pr@Loblaw.caHill+Knowlton StrategiesMichelle
Dias416-413-4635 / michelle.dias@hkstrategies.ca Miriam
Sherkey416-413-4732 / miriam.sherkey@hkstrategies.ca
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