Survey Reveals Adults “Prefer Diet Food Without a Side Order of Preservatives”

The January survey of more than 2,500 adults ages 18 and older found that two out of three people surveyed (67%) would prefer that their diet foods include only all-natural ingredients without preservatives and not processed foods with other potentially harmful chemicals and additives.

27 Mar 2012 --- Americans looking to lose weight want diet food companies to hold the preservatives according to a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of GenoVive, a new weight management program that uses genetic analysis as the foundation of customized weight loss programs.

The January survey of more than 2,500 adults ages 18 and older found that two out of three people surveyed (67%) would prefer that their diet foods include only all-natural ingredients without preservatives and not processed foods with other potentially harmful chemicals and additives.

"Additives such as preservatives, antibiotics, hormones, and a variety of new-to-nature components appear to negatively impact the quality of our food and potentially negatively impact our bodies," said Dr. Ruth DeBusk, PhD, RD, who is a geneticist, molecular biologist and clinical dietitian in practice in Tallahassee, Florida, and a member of GenoVive's Scientific Advisory Board.

The survey also showed that women are significantly more likely than men to prefer diet foods with all natural ingredients, with 71% of women making this choice over 63% of men.

"With women making many of the critical decisions about food in American households, it comes as no surprise that women in particular are demanding better ingredients for their diet needs and overall food choices for their families," said Dr. DeBusk. "Diet foods that are laden with additives actually work against us by disrupting the body's natural tendencies. They make the challenge of losing weight and keeping it off even more difficult."

Beverly Swango, nutritionist and director of product development at GenoVive, cautions against the proliferation of food additives in the foods we eat that exceed reasonable amounts each day.

"It's unfortunate, but today, most diet foods as well as a startling number of food items found in our supermarkets contain additives and chemicals that trigger unwanted reactions in our cells and in our genes," said Swango.

According to Swango, most consumers realize that the BPA found in water bottles is harmful yet some of the most-unsuspecting foods also contain additives. "Tortilla wraps contain anti-microbials while nutrient bars for diabetics include titanium dioxide. While some additives are considered safe in trace amounts, over time there can be cumulative effect that can have significant negative impact on consumer health. At GenoVive, we only use 'real food' that the body was designed to metabolize."

Source: GenoVive, Harris Interactive