"It's no secret that consumers across the globe have a desire to indulge. But the study reveals that what makes American consumers unique are their contradictory attitudes on dessert," said Sharon Olson, Executive Director of Culinary Visions. "While European consumers aren't afraid to make dessert an everyday occasion, American consumers express more anxiety about incorporating dessert into a meal. American consumers simultaneously love dessert and regard it with a sense of apprehension."

Here are the key takeaways from the Global Indulgence Study:

Defining Dessert Time
Interestingly enough, the study did not immediately expose the American consumer's sweet tooth. In fact, American consumers were one of the least likely surveyed groups to state that they like to order dessert when dining out at restaurants. Sixty-four percent of the American consumers surveyed said that they like to order dessert when they eat out, compared to 82% of Italian consumers, 78% of consumers from the United Kingdom 75% of French consumers, and 60% of German consumers.

However, when it came to snacking on sweets, American consumers surpassed their European counterparts. Fifty-nine percent of Americans surveyed stated that they enjoy dessert as a snack between meals, compared to 48% of Italian consumers, 47% of German consumers, 44% of French consumers and 39% of consumers from the United Kingdom. American consumers may be less likely to order dessert at the end of the meal, but they love to partake in unstructured snack time.

A Cause for Celebration
For the most part, global consumers associate sweet eats with celebration. Seventy-eight percent of American consumers stated that they like to eat dessert when they are in a celebratory mood, compared to 84% of Italian consumers, 75% of consumers from the United Kingdom and 71% of French consumers. German consumers remained pragmatic, with 50% of those surveyed agreeing with the same statement.

Nonetheless, consumers across the globe generally agreed that a cause for celebration isn't required to indulge. Only among American consumers did a slight majority express hesitation in ordering dessert outside of special occasions. Fifty-three percent of the American consumers surveyed stated that they only order dessert for special occasions, compared to 40% of British consumers, 36% of German consumers, 34% of Italian consumers and 29% of French consumers.

Emotional Eaters
When examining the way their emotions impact their indulgence, Italian consumers again answered unabashedly. Sixty-three percent of Italian consumers stated that they like to eat dessert when they feel stressed, compared to 55% of both American and French consumers, 53% of consumers from the United Kingdom and 40% of German consumers.

Similar results emerged when asked about turning to dessert to cope with unhappiness. Sixty-three percent of Italian consumers stated that they like to eat dessert when they feel unhappy, compared to 54% of American consumers, 53% of consumers from the United Kingdom, 51% of French consumers and 35% of German consumers.

Can I Try a Bite of That?
The study identified one group dining habit that fell primarily into the American camp. Sixty-one percent of American consumers surveyed stated that if someone else at the table orders dessert, then they will have a taste. In comparison, 53% of consumers from the United Kingdom agreed with the same statement. In continental Europe, on the other hand, consumers were more likely than not to feel reluctant about swiping a bite from their fellow diners' plates. Forty-three percent of German consumers, 43% of French consumers and 41% of Italian consumers agreed that they will sample a taste if someone else at their table orders dessert.

About the Survey
The Culinary Visions^® Global Indulgence Study was created in an effort to delve into the psychology of the choices made by consumers trying to balance healthfulness and indulgence when eating dessert away from home. The study explored consumers' attitudes through an online survey taken by 2,000 consumers in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany.

For more information on this project or to purchase a copy of the full report, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.