The sociologist view point on the changes between the French consumer and the food Claude WISNER-BOURGEOIS Department of Economic and Social Sciences INA P-G FRANCE
Modern eating social norms What, Where, at wich time?
Eating habits and food perception What s new in France nowadays? What do we eat? How do we eat? Some questions about changes in our attitudes towards food The recent food safety crises A search for natural food Which place for health in food choices? Is every one concerned in the same way?
What do we eat?
Food is more and more provided by agro-industry Part in volume % - INSEE 2002 1960 1980 2001 sugar 2,0 1,2 0,6 Sweets, pastries 8,8 13,0 14,1 soft drinks Fresh meat 11,2 11,2 6,6 Ready made meat 5,9 8,3 11,7 Fresh vegetabes 8,5 5,7 5,4 Canned and ready made vegetables 1,2 2,3 3,1 Fresh fruits 7,3 6,1 5,8 Canned and ready made fruits 0,8 1,1 1,3
Home consumption INSEE 1991 ; in 1995, it had not decreased Rabbits 45% Fruits 12 % Vegetables 27% Potatoes 25% Eggs 16% Chickens 16%
Home comsumption (INPES 2002) In 1996, 34,3% of the population produces and eats part of its own food In 2002, 34,6% of the population produces and eats part of its own food
How do we eat?
The three main meals are still usually eaten at home (INPES 2002) 1996 2002 Breakfast eaten at home Midday meal eaten at home 95 % 95% 70 % 69 % Evening meal eaten at home 89 % 89 %
Average duration of meals doesn t decrease (INPES 2002) 1996 2002 Breakfast 15 minutes 16 mn Midday meal 37 mn 38 mn Evening meal 39mn 40 mn
A simplification of the structure of the two main meals (INPES 2002) 1996 2002 Midday meal 4 with. 3 dishes 2 1 Evening meal 4 with. 3 dishes 2 1 25% 38% 26% 11% 17% 38% 32% 13% 20% 38% 30% 12% 12,5% 34,5% 38% 15%
Nibbling is decreasing with age (%) (INPES 2002) 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 12 years- 17 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-75
What do10-11 years old children eat as extra meal (Fischler 1996 ) Biscuits Sweets and chewin-gum Bread Chocolate Yogurt Cheese Fruits Ice-cream Crescent roll and co. Sausage others
Snacking has been criticized for a long time Doctor Lemery (XVIII century) in is Treatise on food : «Parents give food to their children, all along theday«(it s a pity!)
Cereal with chocolate tasty pleasure Proteins, phosphorus, magnesium For snacks, all along the day
Demographic changes
Activity ratio of women Evolution 1982-1999 (INSEE) 1982 1999 15-19 years old 17% 5,5% 20-24 years old 67% 48% 25-29 years old 71% 82% 30-34 years old 67% 82% 35-39 years old 65% 82%...... 50-54 years old 54% 75% 55-59 years old 45% 53% 60-64 years old 22,5% 14%
25 20 Percentage of the sixty years old and more, and seventy five years old and more in French population (INSEE) % 60 years old and + 15 10 % 75 years old and + 5 0 1950 60 70 80 90 2000 2005p 2006p
Structure of the households : more people alone (INSEE) 1990 1999 People leaving alone 27% 31% Families With children Without children 69% 44% 25% 64% 39% 25% Others 4% 5,3%
The recent food crises : structural and contemporary sides
«Omnivorous paradox» Paul Rozin and Claude Fischler Omnivorous <0 we need a various food >0 we can find it in different stuffs New food attraction - curiosity - neophilia fear because it s unknown - neophobia
Changes in society Peasant and rural society Urban society Agricultural and food stuffs are well-known Food industry : «we don t know what we eat»
Risikogesellschaft 1986 «Society of risk» Ulrich Beck Risk was associated with nature Nowadays risk is thought as product by society
Search for «natural food»
How do French people describe the changes of their own way of eating J.P. POULAIN 2002 30 20 10 0-10 -20-30 -40 heavy fat country exotic dietetic natural simple light various -50-60 -70
«Industrial food» compared to «natural-food» (ENITIAA 1994) They are not so healthy as natural food They are not so tasty as natural food I completely agree I agree 35 21 52 26 I don t agree I don t agree at all 25 17 15 5
Through marketing and advertisement, food gets familar and reassuring The agricultural stuff is presented with the industrial stuff we eat Nature : neither agriculture, nor food-industry Tradition : ancient agricultural techniques Emotional : your mother gives you her love when she cooks for you»
City-centre Cheaper! Peas and carrots
Granny Granny s strawberries jam Granny, it s you I so much love
Remember those dishes your mother prepared lovingly Tender and fleshy salmon subtle flavour of white wine and shallot Cooked with the same love as your mother did The taste of the time when we had time
A growing link between food and health?
For you, what does eating means in first (INPES 2002) constraint share nothing special santé necessary to live health pleasure, taste
When you choose what to eat at meal, you are influenced by Baromètre Santé Nutrition INPES 2002 Home habits : 75,3% Health : 73,8% Your personal taste : 72,0% Your budget : 56,1% Time to prepare : 53,1%
How do consumers feel among countries Profiles Maximal Score Minimal Score Believe in science USA 68% Germany 49% Tormented USA 56% Italy 36% Convivial France 67% G.B 48% Hedonistic France 77% G.B 53% Bio-ecolo Switzerland 59% G.B 46%
Social inequalities towards food
Social inequalities towards food (1) Some differences of consumption (g/day) between workers and upper classes (INCA 1999) Workers Upper classes Delicatessen 45 38 Vegetables 106 122 Fruits 90 126 Pizza 31 22
Social inequalities towards food (2) Overweigthed or obese women according to the income (INPES 2002) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% < 900euros 900-1500 <1500 obese overweighted normal