| It's
safe to say that 2004 will go down in history as the year
that scored the low-carbohydrate diet craze. It looks like
2005 will mark the year that it ended- at least the bandwagon
is likely to slow tremendously.
Recent research indicates the low-carbohydrate diet craze
is on the decline. The number of Americans following diets
like Atkins and South Beach dropped to 4.6 percent in September
from 9 percent in January, according to research by The
NPD Group.
Other research suggests about one-third of Americans formerly
on low-carb diets (about 8 million people) have quit the
effort. Sales of "The South Beach Diet" book slowed
to about 20,000 copies per week as of early October, down
from around 70,000 a week during the peak of the low-carb
craze in early March 2004.
This is bad news for companies marketing low-carb products.
Atkins Nutritionals' officials say they will cut jobs due
to stiff competition other related products. Dollar sales
of low-carb foods rose only 6.1 percent during the 13 weeks
that ended on Sept. 25. That compares to the double- and
triple-digit gains in the previous periods, according to
AC Nielson Label Trends.
Whether meat will feel the effects in 2005 remains to be
seen. Meat-sector production for the year ahead is pointing
upward, including pork. Booming export sales and the low-carb
craze keep pork profits healthy in 2004 despite record hog
slaughter. Market analysts generally believe 2005 live-hog
prices could decline 6 percent to 8 percent if demand holds
at 2004 levels. They will decline further if demand wanes. |
