The French’s consumption of fish and shellfish essentially depends on their financial means, according to a survey carried out by Ifop for Ouest France. Older people are the biggest consumers, young people are far behind.
Shrimp, tuna, salmon… The French appreciate seafood, but 71% of them do not eat it regularly for reasons of price. This is what a study carried out by Ifop for Ouest France demonstrates, the results of which were published this Thursday. In addition to consuming more fish, the favored categories also turn more towards shellfish and crustaceans.
A decreasing fish budget
If 67% of French people said they would not consume more fish for price reasons in 2023, 71% now give this reason. Only 12% of respondents mentioned reasons linked to “lack of knowledge of recipes”.
Furthermore, the most consumed seafood products, namely salmon, tuna and shrimp, are essentially imported species.
Their popularity is mainly explained by their price, according to Jérôme Fourquet, director of the Opinion and corporate strategies department of Ifop, who was interviewed by Ouest France.
“Certain French fishing species cost more than imported products,” he explains to our colleagues.
But that doesn’t stop 81% of French people from thinking that French seafood products are of better quality, according to the study. Quality also remains one of the main concerns of consumers since 55% of them buy their fish at the fishmonger or in the fish section of supermarkets. A figure down 5 points compared to 2023, where they were 60%.
Older people consume more
The Ifop study also mentions higher than average consumption among elderly people. This conclusion echoes another survey carried out by Harris Interactive for France Filière Pêche, CIPA and the National Shellfish Culture Committee, published in July 2023.
The latter tells us that the biggest consumers of fish, who eat it once or twice a week, are essentially individuals aged 65 and over (57%), as well as those aged between 35 and 49 (51% ). As for young people aged 18 to 24, only 27% consume it once or twice a week.
As a reminder, the National Food Safety Agency (ANSES) considers that seafood products have “valuable nutritional qualities”, and therefore recommends “consuming two portions of fish per week, including an oily fish (with a high content of long-chain omega 3) such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, or smoked trout.
But this recommendation comes up against an increase in the cost of living which does not spare the fish. The price of the latter has skyrocketed by almost 30% in three years according to INSEE.
