Government is planning more transparency: consumers should be better informed!

Government is planning more transparency: consumers should be better informed!

The plans of the new government coalition of the ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos could consider considerable progress for consumers: inside in the food sector, as the organization Foodwatch emphasizes. In its government program, the coalition has guaranteed to introduce the nutri-score that has long been required-but on a voluntary basis, which may leave scope for manufacturers. In addition, the phenomenon of "shrink flation" is recognized, which means that customers should in future be informed about dwindling quantities at an unchanged price or packaging size. Indra Kley-Schöneich from Foodwatch is optimistic, but also critical: "We have a right to healthy, affordable and transparent foods, and we will not let up until this right becomes a reality," she adds.

Nutrition report 2024: Changes in buying behavior

Important trends in food consumption are visible by the Nutrition Report 2024 of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). Since 2015, the views of consumers have changed significantly on important topics such as animal welfare and sustainability. 65 percent of those surveyed now pay attention to the animal welfare label and 59 percent prefer products with the organic seal. The vegetarians and vegans among consumers rose from 29 percent to 39 percent in 2020. The importance of the Nutri scores is also growing, since 88 percent of the respondents indicate that he has already noticed it, and 37 percent confirm that it affects their purchase decision.

These developments reflect a growing desire for more transparency and a stronger focus on healthy eating. The nutritional report also shows that a large part of the respondents (92 percent) value an improvement in animal husbandry conditions and insists in a strong support for ecoland construction. This provides clear indications of the Federal Government's nutritional strategy, which has recently been decided and contains measures to implement these consumer wishes.