In conjunction with the Bona Fide polling institute, Interfel has carried out an opinion survey on fruit and vegetable consumption in 5 European Union member states (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain) in order to find out which fruit and vegetables are preferred by Europeans, as well as the obstacles to consumption and expectations.
Survey conducted by the Bona Fide institute in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy. 4,000 people were surveyed online from January 26th to 29th, 2024 (800 in each country)/ © FreshPlaza
What are Europeans' favorite fruit and vegetables?
Broccoli (12%) tops the list of Europeans' favorite vegetables, followed by lettuce (10%) and tomatoes (8%). For the fruit, apples win the most votes (19%), followed by bananas (16%) and strawberries (11%).
© Interfel
Two-thirds of people in 5 European countries want to move towards a more plant-based diet
The opinion polls in all 5 countries show a "majority desire to move towards more plant-based food consumption. Almost two-thirds of respondents (64%) in the 5 countries claimed to want to move towards a more plant-based diet, with more fruit, vegetables and cereals. In France, this desire has increased significantly in two years (+7 points compared to the Ifop/Interfel survey conducted in February 2022). Additionally, a very large majority of respondents in the 5 countries expressed their wish to eat more fruit and vegetables (81%)."
© Interfel
What are the barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption?
"In all 5 countries, price is perceived as the main barrier to increased consumption. 50% of the respondents in the 5 countries cited price as the main obstacle to fruit and vegetable consumption, ahead of lack of time and convenience for cooking (35%) or the fact that it is not easy to find tasty fruit and vegetables (29%)."
Converging expectations of the EU and its policies in all 5 countries
On this issue of fruit and vegetables, the Interprofession "notes a form of Europeanization of the public arena, with common aspirations within the 5 countries, for greater EU support for the sector and producers, for the development of sustainable agriculture and for measures facilitating household access to consumption."
In sum:
64% of Europeans would like to "move towards an increasingly plant-based diet, with more fruit, vegetables and cereals." This is the case for 78% of Spaniards, 77% of Italians, 59% of French, 54% of Germans and 52% of Dutch. In France, this desire is 7 points higher than in the 2022 Interfel/Ifop survey.
81% of Europeans would ideally like to eat more fruit and vegetables. 88% of Italians, 84% of French and Spanish, 76% of Germans and 72% of Dutch would like to increase their fruit and vegetable consumption.