The barometer survey reveals the latest sugar consumption trends in France.
The third and latest Sugar Barometer survey, performed exclusively for the Collective du Sucre in 2004, was recently released. It provides unique insight into how people perceive and consume sugar in France.
More than 1,010 individuals between the ages of 12 and 70 were interviewed for the survey. Offering a wealth of data about the way sugar is used and enjoyed, the survey provides qualitative indicators of sugar’s image.
Daily consumption
The average person in France eats sweetened food nine times a day. By sweetened products, we mean products sweetened by sugar added during the production process or when the product is eaten, products with a sweet taste (naturally sweet or containing added sweeteners), and neutral non-sweetened products (voluntarily eaten without sugar, but which could be eaten with sugar).
Sugar still plays a major role in the food eaten by the French, both in its direct and indirect forms.
- Coffee accounts for more than half of the sweetened drinks consumed by the French.
- Yoghurt is the most popular sweetened food (19%), ahead of cake and pastry (14%) and jam (12%)
- The French hold the distinction of consuming white sugar, mainly as sugar cubes, in more than 79% of cases in which they add sugar to their food
Consumer attitudes differ between men and women
The data relating to coffee reveals that young women are more likely to drink their coffee with sugar, although they tend to limit themselves to one serving of sugar.
Men are more likely to put sugar in their yoghurt and/or fromage blanc [soft white cheese] (the No. 2 product most frequently consumed with added sugar) and in larger quantities. More than 80% of young people between the ages of 12 and 24 add sugar to their coffee.
Consumption inside and outside the home : the return of an on-the-go lifestyle
Food consumed outside the home is limited mainly to lunch and a morning and afternoon snack.
We tend to consume proportionally more sweetened products away from home than at home at any given time of day.