Good fats, bad fats. Food marketers can influence consumer perceptions.

Remember good carbs, bad carbs? It was not so long ago that all carbohydrates were to be shunned in pursuit of a healthy diet. Then, thanks to food industry and dietary professionals, the word spread that some types of carbs are actually an important part of a healthy diet and everyone moved on.

Well, fats and oils are now at that turning point.  A new trend report from the Center for Culinary Development and Packaged Facts, a market research firm, confirms that consumer perceptions are evolving.  There is a lot more public discussion of good fats, bad fats, and consumers are more accepting of the notion that a balanced diet should include the good fats.  The take away for food producers and marketers of products that include healthy, good-for-you fats?  Investing in advertising, promotional campaigns, and informative packaging design can accelerate the learning curve for consumers.