Milan, Sept 10 - Italians bought more organic food and drinks in the first half of 2009 than a year ago as appetites for healthier but pricier products defied the economic downturn, a survey showed on Thursday.
Purchases of packaged organic foods for domestic use rose 7.4 percent in the first six months of this year, according to the survey of Italian families conducted by agricultural think-tank ISMEA and market research firm Nielsen.
That compared with a 0.2 percent tick-up in total food purchases in Italy and a 1.8 percent fall in food products with origin labels, which are considered a high quality guarantee and usually more expensive, the survey said. "The crisis has not dented the appeal of organic products which still find room in Italians' shopping baskets," ISMEA said in a statement accompanying the survey.
But organic infant food consumption fell 18 percent in child-loving Italy in the first six months of 2009, the survey showed.
Sales of organic food have fallen in some markets as the economic downturn forces consumers to cut back on purchases.
The organic products market in Italy is estimated at around 2 billion euros ($2.92 billion), or about 1.5 percent of the total food and beverages market. ($1=.6860 Euro)