2026 FoodMinds Study Reveals Key Trends in Food Processing, Ingredients and Consumer Affordability
Food processing, ingredient preferences and affordability are playing an increasingly important role in how Americans select food and beverages, according to FoodMinds’ 2026 Conscious Consumption Index™ (CCI). The national survey examines the purchasing habits, concerns and expectations of 1,000 U.S. adults responsible for household grocery shopping, highlighting how perceptions of food processing and nutrition influence consumer behavior.
The findings reveal that consumers are paying closer attention to product ingredients and how foods are made. At the same time, affordability remains a significant concern, creating challenges for shoppers who want to make healthier food choices without exceeding their budgets. The results also highlight growing interest in transparent labeling, increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) for nutrition information and the need for clearer guidance for consumers navigating health-related food decisions.
According to the study, 54% of respondents said they had started purchasing or increased their purchases of a food or beverage during the past year because they perceived it as less processed, contained fewer additives or included ingredients they preferred. Conversely, 46% reported stopping or reducing purchases because a product appeared more processed, contained additives or included ingredients they wanted to avoid.
These findings indicate that ingredient composition and perceptions of processing are becoming important considerations in grocery shopping decisions. Food manufacturers and beverage brands must therefore understand how consumers interpret product information and communicate their offerings in ways that address questions about ingredients, nutrition and food production.
The affordability challenge is equally significant. Approximately 58% of respondents agreed that affordable foods are often the most processed, suggesting that many shoppers perceive a conflict between their ingredient preferences and the prices they can afford.
“Americans are using ingredients and perceptions of processing to help decide what belongs in their shopping carts,” said Lauren Hoffman, MBA, RD, Senior Vice President at FoodMinds. She emphasized that understanding these perceptions is essential for food companies seeking to communicate nutrition science in ways that address consumer questions and concerns.
Food Affordability Remains a Major Consumer Concern
The FoodMinds survey highlights affordability as one of the central challenges facing consumers who want to prioritize healthier and more sustainable food options.
Approximately 61% of respondents agreed that healthy, sustainable foods are too expensive. This finding suggests that even consumers who recognize the potential benefits of healthier eating may encounter financial barriers when trying to incorporate preferred products into their regular grocery purchases.
Consumers also expect food companies to take a more active role in making nutritious options accessible. Nearly half of those surveyed, or 49%, strongly agreed that food companies should do more to make healthier foods affordable.
These expectations extend beyond pricing to include equitable access to nutritious products. About 30% of respondents identified improving access to healthier foods in lower-income communities as a priority for building trust in food companies. Another 28% said lowering the prices of healthier foods would help strengthen consumer confidence.
For food manufacturers, retailers and brands, the results underscore the importance of considering affordability alongside product development, nutrition positioning and sustainability initiatives. Consumers may value recognizable ingredients, reduced additives and healthier formulations, but these attributes alone may not be sufficient to encourage purchases when prices remain prohibitive.
Companies that address affordability and access while communicating the nutritional characteristics of their products may be better positioned to respond to consumer expectations. The findings also suggest that efforts to promote healthier eating should consider the practical realities of household grocery budgets and the availability of suitable options in different communities.
Clear Ingredient Lists and Transparent Labeling Can Strengthen Trust
Transparency is another important factor influencing how consumers evaluate food products and brand communications. When asked what would make messages about healthier, more affordable or less processed foods more believable, respondents most frequently selected a clear ingredient list displayed on product packaging.
Approximately 33% identified a clear ingredient list as an important factor in establishing credibility. Another 25% selected Nutrition Facts information demonstrating lower levels of added sugar, sodium or saturated fat.
The results suggest that shoppers want information they can readily understand and use when comparing products. Rather than relying exclusively on broad marketing claims, consumers appear to value specific details about ingredients and nutritional composition that help them assess whether a product aligns with their preferences.
The survey’s message testing also found that statements explaining how foods are made and why recognizable ingredients are included were among the messages most frequently selected as likely to increase trust.
Meanwhile, messages addressing affordability, convenience and clearer information for parents ranked among those most frequently selected as likely to encourage purchases.
These findings offer food and beverage companies an opportunity to improve communication across product packaging, digital platforms and other consumer-facing channels. Clear ingredient declarations, understandable explanations of ingredient functions and accessible nutrition information can help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions.
Andrea Carrothers, MS, RD, Senior Vice President and Group Lead at FoodMinds, said consumers want clearer information about their food and need healthier choices to be affordable.
She explained that companies can build credibility by describing what their products contain, explaining why ingredients are used and supporting nutrition claims with understandable evidence. Addressing affordability alongside these efforts is essential to meeting consumer expectations.
For businesses operating in increasingly competitive food markets, the findings reinforce the importance of substantiating product claims and presenting information in a straightforward manner. Clear communication may also help address consumer uncertainty surrounding food processing and the role of particular ingredients in finished products.
AI Is Becoming a Source of Food and Nutrition Information
Artificial intelligence is emerging as another channel through which consumers seek information about food, ingredients, nutrition and grocery purchasing.
According to the FoodMinds survey, 44% of respondents reported using AI tools or AI-generated search results to obtain food, nutrition or grocery information. However, adoption differs considerably across generations.
Millennials reported the highest level of use among the groups highlighted in the study, with 60% saying they had used AI tools or AI-generated search results for these purposes. Gen Z followed at 55%, while 21% of Baby Boomers reported similar usage.
Despite this growing adoption, consumer confidence in AI-generated information remains limited. Across all respondents, only 31% said they somewhat or completely trusted AI tools to provide accurate information about food, nutrition, ingredients and food processing.
The difference between AI usage and trust highlights an important challenge for food and beverage companies. Consumers may increasingly turn to AI-powered platforms when searching for product details or nutrition guidance, but they may still question whether the information they receive is reliable.
As AI-generated answers become part of the consumer information landscape, companies have an opportunity to strengthen the accuracy and accessibility of information about their products. This includes providing clear, consistent and evidence-based explanations of ingredients, nutrition attributes and manufacturing practices.
Brands should also ensure that their public-facing information is grounded in credible nutrition science and presented in a way that consumers can understand. Maintaining reliable product information across digital channels can help support more informed decision-making as consumers adopt new technologies.
However, the survey findings do not establish that improving a brand’s visibility in AI-generated answers will automatically increase consumer trust or purchases. Instead, they point to the importance of accurate information and credible communication as consumers explore AI-based sources.
GLP-1 Users Are Seeking More Frequent Nutrition Guidance
The survey also examined information-seeking behaviors among consumers reporting current use of GLP-1 medications. The results indicate that these respondents were more likely than those reporting no GLP-1 use in their household to search for nutrition-related information at least weekly.
Among current GLP-1 users, 69% said they searched for nutrition information at least weekly, compared with 50% of respondents reporting no GLP-1 use in their household.
The difference was also evident in searches for ingredients and additives. Approximately 63% of current GLP-1 users reported seeking this information at least weekly, compared with 41% of respondents reporting no household use of GLP-1 medications.
Interest in processed and ultra-processed foods followed a similar pattern. Among current GLP-1 users, 58% said they searched for information about these foods at least weekly, compared with 37% of respondents reporting no household use.
In addition to searching more frequently, some current GLP-1 users reported feeling overwhelmed by conflicting information about healthy eating. Approximately 32% strongly agreed that they felt overwhelmed by conflicting food and nutrition guidance, compared with 20% of respondents reporting no GLP-1 use in their household.
These findings suggest that consumers seeking nutrition information in connection with GLP-1 use may benefit from clearer, more consistent explanations of food choices and nutritional considerations. The results also highlight the importance of distinguishing evidence-based information from generalized claims and contradictory online advice.
For food and beverage companies, the findings point to an opportunity to provide accessible, scientifically supported nutrition information that responds to consumer questions without overstating health benefits. Clear explanations of product composition and nutritional attributes may help consumers evaluate products more confidently.
The survey does not establish why GLP-1 users seek information more frequently or demonstrate that medication use directly causes these behaviors. Nevertheless, the differences reported by respondents identify an audience with comparatively high interest in nutrition, ingredients and food processing.
Implications for the Food and Beverage Industry
The 2026 Conscious Consumption Index presents a picture of American consumers balancing multiple priorities when purchasing food and beverages. Ingredient preferences and perceptions of processing influence what shoppers buy, while affordability can limit their ability to choose products they consider healthier or more sustainable.
At the same time, consumers want more transparent labels, clearer explanations of food production and nutrition claims supported by understandable evidence. The growing use of AI introduces another consideration for companies seeking to provide reliable product information, while the findings on GLP-1 users underscore the demand for clear nutrition guidance among consumers with specific questions.
Together, these trends suggest that food companies should consider a comprehensive approach to consumer communication. This includes making ingredient information easier to understand, clearly explaining nutritional characteristics, avoiding unsupported claims and considering affordability when developing and positioning products.
The findings also highlight the importance of adapting communication to different audiences and information channels. As consumers increasingly use digital tools to research food choices, companies must ensure that accurate information is readily available and consistent across packaging, websites and other consumer-facing resources.
Ultimately, the FoodMinds 2026 Conscious Consumption Index indicates that trust, transparency and affordability are closely connected in consumer perceptions of food. Companies that respond to these expectations with clear communication and credible nutrition information will be better equipped to address the questions shaping grocery purchasing decisions.
As ingredient awareness, food processing perceptions and digital information sources continue to influence shopping behavior, understanding consumer concerns will remain important for food manufacturers, retailers and beverage brands seeking to build lasting relationships with American households.
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