Russians prefer fresh and natural foods - poll

UFA, 16 February 2016. /Bashinform News Agency, Alim Faizov/. In Russia, consumers increasingly pay attention to the healthy and natural products of high quality without additives and colorants.

According to surveys and estimates by Romir holding and the All-Russian People’s Front Centre in December 2015, 30 percent of Russians preferred the products of domestic production. The country of origin was not such an important criterion for the rest of respondents.

About 90 percent of respondents considered absence of dyes, artificial additives as the main parameter of the food quality. Another criterion - short term storage was considered important by 25 percent of Russians. Thus the credibility of well-known brands decreases from 19 percent in 2012 to 5 percent by the end of 2015. Interest in the imported products as of higher quality ones, reduced from 3 percent to 1 percent.

Russians are willing to pay more for the following foods: for eco-friendly products - 56 percent of respondents, for fresh, non-frozen foods - 51 percent of respondents. Another 46 percent of Russians prefer to pay extra for GMO free products.

Russians in general are dissatisfied with the quality of food and growth in food prices, but the consumption of fresh produce decreased by just 4 percent over three years.

The survey polled 1,000 people between the ages of 18 and 60 years from all federal districts of the Russian Federation.