New Survey Finds 74 Percent of Americans Won't Sacrifice Food Quality for Price

OMAHA, Neb. - Many Americans have cut back on their food spending over the past year, but not at the cost of sacrificing fresh, high-quality meals for their families. In fact, a new survey commissioned by ConAgra Foods found that the majority of Americans – 86 percent – say value is a top concern when shopping for food. But no matter the cost, three in four (74 percent) say they expect fresh ingredients and well-made food regardless of the price tag.

According to NPD Group data, over the past four years there has been a steady increase in the number of Americans eating meals at home. This helps explain why sales of frozen foods were expected to increase by 4.5 percent in 2008 and are expected to remain strong throughout the recession.3 Three out of four (74 percent) Americans agree that steaming food can help enhance the flavor and texture of frozen foods.