Fewer than four out of ten French-speaking Belgian consumers (39%) opt for Walloon dairy products, the latest consumption barometer from the Walloon Agency for the Promotion of Quality Agriculture (Apaq-W) showed on Monday.
This marks a significant drop compared to 2019 (53%). Almost half of consumers (46%) also do not know whether the dairy products they consume are from Wallonia.
Milk nevertheless seems to be popular, with three out of four French-speaking Belgians having consumed it in the last three months, notes the Apaq-W. Indeed, 80% drink milk or a drink containing milk at least once a week.
Cheese, meanwhile, features at the top of the dairy products ranking: 88% of the 1,000 respondents have consumed it in the last three months.
The perception of dairy farming among the consumers surveyed has improved markedly since 2019, with almost seven out of ten giving it a positive assessment (+9 points). Yet fewer than four out of ten consumers (39%) say they choose Walloon dairy products.
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Moreover, the barometer showed that almost one in two consumers (46%) do not know whether the dairy products they consume are Walloon. Among the reasons given for this, the majority (34%) say they do not pay attention to the origin of dairy products and do not notice them in supermarkets. On the other hand, 84% of those who do not consume Walloon dairy products say they are open to doing so in the future.
The Apaq-W is therefore launching an appeal to consume locally through an awareness campaign starting this Monday, and wishes to promote the efforts made by the sector in terms of sustainability.
