••• food research
But how do you get your protein?
Plant-based meat continues rise in popularity
It’s burger night in your household and you slap three delicious patties on the grill only to find they’re leaking…beet juice? Plant-based meat alternatives are getting more convincing – and they’re continuing to gain traction among American consumers. According to a survey conducted in August 2021 by the International Food Information Council (IFIC), about two-thirds (65%) of Americans reported eating “products that attempt to mimic the flavor and texture of animal protein but are made with only plant products” in the year leading up to the study – with 20% consuming them at least weekly and another 22% consuming them daily. Another 12% said they had not consumed plant-based meat alternatives over the past year but would like to try them in the future. A previous IFIC survey also found that 24% of adults were consuming more protein from plant sources and 19% were eating more plant-based meat alternatives. Similarly, a January 2021 survey found that 28% had tried plant alternatives to animal meat for the first time in the past year.
Respondents indicated a variety of reasons for why they might choose to consume plant-based meat alternatives. Healthfulness led the pack, with 39% ranking it among their top three reasons, followed by these products being a source of high-quality protein (34%), liking the taste (33%), environmental/sustainability benefits (23%) and health claims/certifications (23%). Roughly half of consumers cited the nutrition facts label (52%) and the ingredients list (49%) as one of their top two ways to confirm their reasons for consuming these foods.
Of those who choose plant-based meat alternatives because of perceived product healthfulness, the top three most sought-after benefits were high quality/complete protein (43%), heart health (41%) and protein content (40%).
When respondents were asked about their interest in certain alternative protein sources, over half (56%) were interested in vegetables, followed by grains (53%), nuts and seeds (52%) and beans and/or lentils (51%). When looking at specific sources, 42% were interested in soy and 41% in peas.
Consumers were also asked which sources of information they would consult if they wanted to know more about plant-based meat alternatives. Health websites were the most popular (with 36% of respondents ranking them among their top three choices), followed by food packages (29%), food company websites (21%), government websites (20%) and dietitians (19%). Fewer than one in 10 (9%) said they didn’t want, or haven’t heard, information about plant-based meat alternatives.
As contenders in the plant-based meat category multiply, so do their meat-adjacent product names and claims. To understand how these products are perceived and described by American consumers, survey respondents were shown an image of a plant-based product that resembled a burger and were told it was made without animal meat. They were then given a list of possible descriptions and asked to select their preferred options.
The most popular name was “plant-based burger,” which was among the top three choices of 39% of survey-takers, followed by “veggie burger” and “meatless burger” (35% each), “plant-based meat” (29%), “vegetarian burger” (25%) and “meat alternative” (24%). Other terms ranked much lower, such as “soy patty” (8%) as well as “meat analogue” and “soy meat analogue,” each at 5%.
When respondents were told that the burger was made primarily from soy protein, the value of transparency in the primary ingredients became clear: Respondents’ top-ranked descriptors became soy-specific, with “soy burger” leading the list (42% ranking it in their top three terms), followed by “soy-based burger” (39%) and “soy patty” (34%). In that context, “veggie burger” (23%), “plant-based burger” (22%) and “meatless burger” (22%) were cited far less frequently among the top three descriptors.
Respondents were also shown an image of a strip-shaped product that resembled a chicken tender. Even though they were told the product contained no animal meat, respondents heavily favored terms that included the word “chicken”: 45% ranked “plant-based chicken” in their top three terms, followed by “meatless chicken” (42%), “vegan chicken” (32%), “plant-based strips” (29%) and “vegetarian chicken” (29%). Unlike when shown the “burger” image, consumers seemed to lack an alternative word to “chicken” when describing this product. Once again, when respondents were informed that the food in the image was primarily made from soy protein, their top-ranked descriptions changed to “soy strips” (43%) and “soy-based strips” (40%).
The study was conducted by the International Food Information Council through an online survey of 1,001 U.S. adults from August 26-30, 2021
••• employment research
The eye of upper management
Workers fear surveillance of communication and hours
Have you ever sent a regrettable message through your work e-mail? If so, you’re not alone – and you’re probably just as worried about your boss finding out as everyone else. According to an Elements Global Services article by Georgina Coleman, regrettable communications are commonplace. When describing such occasions, 44% of workers say they’ve talked about something inappropriate for the workplace, 35% say they were gossiping or being negative and 21% say their communications were simply off-topic from work and could be viewed as wasting time.
What’s at the heart of this worry? Trust.
In a study and Google search analysis conducted by Elements Global Services, a common theme that emerges is that employees are very concerned about being monitored during their work, regardless of whether they’re remote or in the office. This isn’t necessarily surprising, considering that there are a myriad of ways an employer might actually surveil employees if they chose.
Of the workers surveyed, 74% of those who work remotely are concerned about their employer monitoring when and how much they work and 76% of workers who use a computer are concerned about their employer monitoring their communications. Two in three workers are even concerned about their location being disclosed by their laptop or phone. Plus, 64% have deleted their browsing history at some point and 53% have deleted a Slack or similar instant message so it can’t be seen by a boss. Those working in insurance (89%), HR (85%) and accounting (83%) were most likely to say they’re concerned about being monitored and 59% of all workers say their employer would be upset with them if they knew everything they’ve ever said or written while at work.
Of the remote workers surveyed, 60% said their employer would be upset with them if they tracked when and how much they work. When asked the same question, only 31% of on-site workers reported the same. Additionally, men (58%) were more likely than women (44%) to say their work hours would be upsetting to their employer. Two-thirds of all workers surveyed (67%) admitted that software to track their productivity would likely make them more productive.
These past pandemic years have laid bare some of the core problems and tensions between employers and employees and for many office workers, the new dynamic of flexible work or working from home is still being tested and refined. For HR managers, some clues to where problems might arise lie within the thousands of queries made to Google each month.
In their Google search analysis, Elements Global Services began with a list of more than 300 common HR-related questions, then narrowed that list to the top 50 most commonly searched. This list of questions sorts into eight categories: privacy, compensation, surveillance, rest, interpersonal, benefits, scheduling and termination. According to the analysis, privacy and surveillance are the top concerns for employees, together representing 42% of the top 50 most common searches. Compensation is also a hot topic, representing 22% of the most common searches. These concerns are largely rooted in trust.
Where HR is often a critical go-between for employees and management, it’s a positive sign that 83% of workers say they trust their HR manager or department. However, a few industries fall well behind the average, with about 50% of people working in media and 69% working in hospitality saying they don’t trust HR. Additionally, entry-level women are the least likely to say they trust HR to protect their interests (68%), versus everyone else (79%). On the other hand, entry-level men (83%) have a nearly equal expectation that their interests will be protected as do senior-level women (84%).
While a majority of people say they trust HR, that doesn’t mean they find HR effective or that they don’t harbor other concerns when they consider making formal complaints. Two-thirds of workers say they’ve neglected to report something to HR because they didn’t think HR would fix the issue. The most frequently cited problems were having too much work, a personality clash and bullying. A reluctance to make reports is not just about the specific nature of the issue or the employee assuming that HR won’t act. There’s also a fear of retaliation to contend with – 49% of workers who have neglected to report something cited this fear. Given that personality clashes, bullying and sexual harassment are oft-cited issues, it’s no surprise this fear of retaliation is a barrier.
The study was conducted by Elements Global Services and surveyed 1,000 Americans between June 11-12, 2021. Fifty-seven percent of respondents were male and 43% were female. Ages ranged from 18-68.
••• health care research
Checking vital signs
Pressure on hospital nurses drives some to quit
The past two years have offered a special kind of whiplash to nurses, who have cycled through being called heroes, getting laid off, working in critically understaffed conditions and being chronically underpaid. According to a survey conducted by Hospital IQ, this state of constant crisis for frontline nurses might ultimately end up driving them from their jobs – and maybe even the nursing field altogether.
The majority of the 201 U.S. hospital-based nurses surveyed, 90% of respondents, are considering leaving the nursing profession in the next year, with 71% of RNs that have over 15 years of experience thinking about leaving as soon as possible or within the next few months.
This leave-taking isn’t primarily a result of vaccine mandates. However, 83% of respondents said that their hospital has mandated the COVID-19 vaccine and 30% of these nurses are both opposed and are thinking of leaving their facility because of it. The remaining 70% either support the mandate or are opposed but plan to continue working at their facility regardless.
Hospital nurses are largely overwhelmed and understaffed; 45% of RNs said the estimated ratios across shifts are five or more patients to one nurse, with 84% of emergency room nurses and 96% of intensive care unit or critical care nurses saying they were four-to-one or higher.
The problem didn’t just begin with the pandemic, even if it was amplified by it. Seventy-two percent of respondents said they were experiencing burnout prior to the pandemic and 43% said a shortage of technicians meant they were doing more tasks like cleaning units, procuring supplies and managing clerical duties as part of their workload. Thirty-nine percent said they were experiencing more serious mental health issues like anxiety or depression due to their increasing job demands.
Nurses are also challenged by the public-facing parts of the job. Half (51%) of respondents feel a “lack of empathy” from their patients’ family members and 47% said family members had acted “more entitled and demanding.” Four out of 10 said at least one family member they’ve engaged with had been “verbally or physically aggressive” with them.
The pressure on nurses and staffing shortages also impact patient care; 38% of respondents said they had seen an increase in patients returning for post-discharge secondary care, with another 38% saying they’d seen an increase in medication errors or delays. Thirty-six percent have seen patients with acute conditions walk out of an ER because the wait for a bed was so long.
The study was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Hospital IQ and surveyed 201 U.S. hospital-based nurses in November 2021.
••• LGBTQ research
A world of a difference
Opinions on LGBTQ issues vary by age, country
You’ve probably noticed a generational difference when it comes to folks supporting LGBTQ rights or identifying as LGTBQ themselves. However, research from Ipsos highlights just how wide this gap really is as well as the ways in which different countries vary in their opinions on LGBTQ issues.
Ipsos’ LGBTQ+ Pride 2021 Global Survey surveyed 19,069 adults ages 18-74 from 27 countries and found that those who identify as transgender, nonbinary, nonconforming, gender-fluid or other than male or female make up 4% of Gen Z (born since 1997) compared to 2% among Millennials and 1% among all adults. Younger adults are also significantly more likely to identify differently from heterosexual and to say they are equally attracted to both sexes.
The survey also shows how much exposure to LGBTQ people and engagement with the LGBTQ community varies across the world. For example, 66% in Brazil report having a gay or lesbian relative, friend or colleague vs. 7% in Japan and South Korea. In the United States, 57% say they have a relative, friend or co-worker who is lesbian or gay, 30% one who is bisexual, 14% one who is transgender and 14% one who is nonbinary, nonconforming or gender-fluid.
Anti-discrimination laws and equal marriage and adoption rights for LGBTQ people are supported by majorities in most of the 27 countries surveyed, including the U.S., but are fiercely opposed in several countries. In the U.S., 72% say same-sex couples should be allowed to marry or to obtain some legal recognition (15% say they should not be allowed any legal recognition), 72% agree that same-sex couples should have the same rights to adopt children as heterosexual couples do (22% disagree) and 60% support laws banning discrimination against LGBTQ people when it comes to employment, access to education, housing and social services (21% oppose them).
Overall, respondents showed more support than opposition toward corporate activism promoting equality – 47% support these initiatives vs. the 19% who oppose them on average globally (48% vs. 20% in the U.S). Additionally, majorities in most – but not all – countries support LGBTQ people being open about their sexual orientation or gender identity with everyone. And there is generally more support than opposition toward LGBTQ people displaying affection in public (37% support vs. 27% opposition globally, and 41% vs. 27% in the U.S.) and more LGBTQ characters on TV, in films and in advertising (35% support vs. 25% opposition globally, 39% vs. 27% in the U.S.).
There is also a great deal of support in most countries for lesbian, gay and bisexual athletes in sports teams being open about their orientation. On the other hand, when it comes to allowing transgender athletes to perform according to the gender with which they identify, public opinion is divided and varies widely across countries. On average globally, 32% support it, 32% oppose it and 36% are neutral. In the U.S., 27% support it, 45% oppose it and 28% are neutral. Americans’ opinion on whether to allow transgender athletes to perform based on the gender with which they identify largely reflects their political party identification: More Democrats support it than oppose it (42% vs. 24%), while more Republicans oppose it than support it (75% vs. 11%).
The study was conducted by Ipsos and surveyed 19,069 adults aged 18-74 in the United States, Canada, Malaysia, South Africa and Turkey, and 16-74 in 23 other markets between April 23-May 7, 2021.
••• leisure research
Between the pages
Books get a boost during the pandemic
It’s no secret that, as our lives began to take very different shapes due to COVID-19, most all of us were searching for ways to find a little levity (and sanity). For many, this search resulted in a renewed passion for reading. According to a Book Riot survey of its members, more than half (58.4%) of respondents have been reading more since the pandemic. But reading isn’t a stress-reliever for everyone – 18.2% said they’re actually reading less and 23.3% reported that the amount they read hasn’t changed.
Most (70%) said they’re reading the same book length as usual, while 14.7% are delving into longer reads (which tracks with the increase in 17.3% increase in nonfiction and 8.2% increase in fantasy) and 15.1% said they’re reading shorter books now.
Indie booksellers and Amazon have a corner on book buyers currently, with 31% of respondents reporting that they’re buying more books from independent bookstores and 27% saying the same about Amazon. Eleven percent are buying more books from chain bookstores like Barnes and Noble and 18% said they’re buying more books from used bookstores. Just 4% are book shopping at big-box stores like Target and Costco and 16% said they’re buying from another option not listed.
Book clubs have taken a hit during the pandemic, with 4% disbanding their book clubs entirely and 6% pausing club meetings until it feels safe to start again. For those who took their book clubs virtual, 9% will stay online and 15% have returned to in-person meetings. One percent never stopped meeting in person through the pandemic.
We learned to love digital during COVID-19 and that applies to our reading formats as well. Forty-seven percent of respondents have changed reading formats during the pandemic and most of this shift is toward digital formats. Twenty-two percent are listening to more audiobooks vs. 4% who are listening to fewer. E-books, too, have seen a lift, with 29% saying they’re using this format more as opposed to the 2% who say they’re using it less. Eleven percent are reading more physical books, while 11% are also reading fewer.
When asked about public library usage during the pandemic, 28% said they were using it more, 25% said they were using it less and 47% said they were using it about the same. A quarter (25%) of respondents are using libraries more and will continue to do so, while 6% are using them more but will stop when they can. Thirty-two percent of respondents said they didn’t use their library before and won’t in the future but 37% reported that although they didn’t use their library in the past, they’ll be visiting it in the future.
There were a few distinct shifts in genre among book lovers as well, with 33% of readers saying that the genre of books they’re reading has changed. This notably includes fantasy (8.2%) and light fiction like “beach reads” (7.9%). But 17.3% of respondents said they’re also reading more nonfiction, which makes sense given not only our increased awareness of world affairs but also the call from activists to educate ourselves. Nonfiction readers were matched only by those who picked up more romance during the pandemic – 17.5% of respondents – which, again, stands to reason given our current reality. What better balm for trying times than that shiny, discounted paperback that always offers a happy ending, no matter the twists and turns the story takes?
Book Riot surveyed 5,117 members in July 2021.