Cargill has provided 10 trends that may influence what, how, and the way consumers are expected to eat this year.
Number one on their list is the growing appeal of protein, with 55 percent of U.S. households saying high protein is important when making food considerations.
Animal protein is expected to stay an important part of the diet, but alternative proteins are increasing, with products mentioning “plant-based” growing 268 percent from 2012-2018.
Cargill believes technology is driving personalized nutrition, and artificial intelligence will be used more to provide nutrition guidance.
Size and convenience will also be two big players, with consumers wanting more smaller-portioned products, and convenient meals like meal kits and snacking.
Most consumers also think USDA grades are important, but confusing—thus, presenting an education opportunity.
Consumers are also moving more out of their comfort zones and exploring global flavors, perhaps driven by travel and social media.
Finally, more consumers are wanting to know where their food comes from, and technologies like blockchain can help farm-to-fork programs and enhance food security and traceability.
