Download the survey here

The International Food Information Council (IFIC) commissioned an online survey among U.S. consumers to measure knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about sweetness in their diets. One thousand adults ages 18 years and older completed the online survey from February 14-19, 2025, and respondents were weighted to ensure proportional results.

Key findings include:

• Of the five basic food tastes, Americans prefer sweet.
• Six in ten agree that sweet-tasting foods and beverages can be part of a healthy diet.
• When Americans think about consuming something sweet, a specific food or beverage comes to mind first.
• Eight in ten believe it is important to reduce the overall sweetness of their diet.
• Among those who believe it is important to reduce the sweetness of their diet, the top reasons are to eat healthier, and/or manage blood sugar/diabetes and body weight.
• The top changes Americans would expect from reducing the sweetness of their diet are increases in health and nutrition, along with decreases in calorie intake and body weight.
• Americans say that desserts and sweet snacks, candy, and fruit contribute the most sweetness in their diet.
• Americans recognize the role of added sugar for sweetness more than sugar’s other functional properties.