Eating In and Out - Who Said the World Was Changing?

Eating habits in Europe and the US seem to be following some familiar patterns despite rumours of change. Italians are still the most likely to eat with the family, Britain is second to the US in takeaway consumption and very few people in the former eastern bloc countries eat out, according to Ipsos' global reporting service World Monitor.

The study compared eating habits in ten countries: the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, the Ukraine, the UK, Romania, Russia, and the US, and found Americans the most likely to eat at restaurants, the most likely to get take-out food, and the most likely to eat alone often ('every day' or 'most days').

Since September 11 some American magazines have been suggesting that eating in, for 'comfort' reasons, was all the rage again in the US, but only 54% of Americans are still sitting down to the table with their family 'most days', compared to a survey average of 62% and a reassuring 88% in Italy. According to Ipsos global division VP Gus Schattenberg, 'As much as we might like watching Emeril or Nigella on TV, many of us are on intimate terms with the burger, the Styrofoam container, and the drive-thru speaker-phone'.

One-third (32%) of Americans eat at restaurants at least a few days a week, with Italians (18%) and Czechs (12%) the next most likely. More than half of the respondents in Hungary, Poland, Romania, urban Russia, and the Ukraine said they never eat at restaurants - compared to only 5% of Americans.

The US again tops the table for take-out, with one-third (33%) picking up lunch or dinner from a restaurant, deli, or food-stand at least a few days a week, and another once a week. In this regard, however, the UK is second with 13% getting take-away at least a few days a week and 24% once a week. In Germany, Hungary and the Ukraine, less than 10% eat take-out food weekly or more often.

Americans are also the most likely to be eating alone frequently. Almost half (46%) eat a meal on their own every day or most days, perhaps linked to the fact that they are often eating on the way somewhere - at least 1 in 5 eat on the move at least a few days a week.

Interviews with a random sampling of adults (18+) were conducted between May 15 and June 29 via Ipsos Global Express, a quarterly international omnibus survey. The target sample size in each country was 250, except for Russia where 500 interviews were conducted and the United States with 1,000. Interviews were conducted door-to-door in the 6 former eastern bloc countries and by telephone in the other four. In Russia sample coverage was limited to urbanized areas with a population above 20,000 persons.

More information about Ipsos World Monitor is available at www.ipsos-insight.com/WM.cfm

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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