It is no longer the big cheese!!!!

Roy Morgan research shows that people are buying less cheese and that this downward trend is continuing from previous years.

According to the findings, 89 percent of those grocery buyers surveyed had bought cheese during the 12 months to March 2013, compared to 92 percent for the 12 months to 2009.

It is the young buyers under 35 years old where the biggest difference is being made, with a decrease of six percent since 2009. Although 85 percent of this age group are still purchasing cheese, although much less block, sliced and soft types than previously.

The research findings show that the younger group are purchasing less cheese for health reasons, and this also applies to other dairy foods with some saying in the study that they “avoid dairy foods whenever possible”. There is however, still a large proportion choosing to purchase cheese and other dairy foods to get enough calcium in their diets.

Angela Smith, Group Account Manager Consumer Products, Roy Morgan Research, said; “… interesting to see is how different kinds of cheese have sold over the last five years. Block cheese, sliced cheese and soft cheese (for example, Brie and Camembert) have lost the most ground, with only cheese snacks and ricotta or cottage cheese remaining stable.”

The reduction in sales of the soft cheeses may well be linked to increasing concerns about the food safety issues that can be associated with them.

This article has been written by Rachelle Williams – The Green Food Safety Coach