To Bio or not to Bio? Organic Food Consumption in Switzerland

Our study aimed to gain from a comprehensive understanding of organic food consumption in Switzerland.

Data from the Swiss National Nutrition Survey menuCH (2014-2015, n = 2057, 18 to 75 years old)and a cross-sectional, population-based survey were used. Dietary information was collected using two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls (24HDRs). Organic foods were classified using information about food descriptors and labels. Participants were classified as organic food consumers if they had consumed organic foods in at least one 24HDR. Binomial logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with organic food consumption.

This study determined that 27.8% of the Swiss population consumed organic food. However, only 3.6% of all food consumed within this group of organic food consumers was organic. Food products of plant origin tended to be consumed more frequently as organic than were those of animal origin, except for eggs and dairy products. Organic food consumption was positively associated with female sex (odds ratio (OR) = 2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.69, 2.80), high educational degree (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.02, 1.61), and high alternate healthy eating index (OR = 5.45, 95% CI 3.70, 8.02), and negatively associated with young age (OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.40, 0.78), French-speaking living area (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.56, 0.93), non-Swiss nationality (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.56, 0.98), large household size (OR = 0.59 95% CI 0.38, 0.89), and obesity (OR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.36, 0.77).

The present study provides a better understanding of the distribution of organic food consumption within the Swiss population and which subgroups consume particularly little organically produced food.

Clinical Trial Registration: ISRCTN 16778734; https://www.isrctn.com/search?q=menuch.