Recent findings have revealed certain sacrifices South African now make in order to keep meat on the table. In an ongoing economic struggle, meat-eaters are opting for cheaper buys and changed diets, according to a new study by Unilever food group’s Knorr.
As Business Insider SA reports, packed-soup and meal-kit company Knorr commissioned a study to learn more about South Africans’ eating habits and spendings. The Plate of The Nation study, conducted by research house Nielsen, included 1 000 participants evenly spread between men and women. The study determined that about 89% of the research respondants identified as meat-eaters.
The study revealed the following information about South Africans’ spending:
- About 67% of consumers are reassesing expenses and cutting out luxuries where possible in order to stick to a limited budget.
- In order to meet tighter budgets, as much as 66% of households change product brands if it’s cheaper than their preferred brands, whereas about 64% of households will settle for the lowest-priced product within their preferred products as a way to continue buying their favourite brands.
The study also revealed information about South Africans’ diets:
- In a typical meal, starch, meat and vegetables are the three main components on a South African plate. In fact, South Africans consume about 41% starch, 27% meat and 13% vegetables per meal.
- There has been an increase of the flexitarian diet, a style of eating that is mostly plant-based foods with meat and other animal products in moderation. In 2022, this diet has seen an increase of about 10%; the study shows that these consumers are primarily following a vergetarian diet, but will eat meat or fish on occasion.
- South Africans also seemingly skip breakfast during the week, but will indulge in breakfast at the weekends. Most South Africans eat weekday dinner.
- It’s also reported that there’s been a 13% increase in the amount of women that snack in between meals, from 70% in 2021 to 83% in 2022. The study shows that these women are mostly between the ages of 16 and 24 years, have children, and live in urban areas.
This third edition of the Knorr’s Plate Of The Nation report concludes with the finding that South Africans will do what they can to hold on to their meat, whether that means settling for cheaper brands or cheaper products, or even adjusting the rest of their diets.
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