Americans Trend Toward Protein Despite Confusion Over Recommended Intake

High-protein diets continue to gain popularity even as a majority of American consumers don’t know their actual protein requirements, according to recent surveys from the International Food Information Council.

While 35% of survey takers increased the amount of protein they consumed in the last year, 79% reported being “unaware” (53%) or “unsure” (26%) how much protein they should be consuming daily, according to the IFIC Spotlight Survey results. Of the respondents who indicated that they did know their recommended protein intake, over half believed the amount should be 50 grams or less. That contrasts with current diet recommendations that say adults weighing 150-200 pounds should consume between 54-73 grams of protein daily, according to the IFIC.

The surveys also showed that Americans’ top three protein sources were meat, eggs and seafood. When choosing protein sources, survey takers indicated taste and price as their driving factors.

The IFIC Spotlight Survey measured “knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about protein” and was completed by 1,000 adults May 10-13. The annual IFIC Food & Health Survey surveyed 3,000 American consumers March 13-27.

This article was originally published by Agri-Pulse. Agri-Pulse is a trusted source in Washington, D.C., with the largest editorial team focused on food and farm policy coverage.