Have you been indulging in chocolate treats during the pandemic? Welcome to the club!
The results of Morning Consult’s 2020 Most Loved Brands survey suggest that chocolate is currently very close to people’s hearts. Of the top 25 Most Loved Brands, seven were food, and four of those were chocolate:
- #8: M&Ms
- #11: Cheerios
- #16: Kellogg’s
- #20: Oreos
- #22: The Hershey Company
- #24: Reese’s
- #25: Heinz Ketchup
Though no food brands were as popular as the United States Postal Service (#1) or Netflix (#5), seven of the top 25 is very good. Last year, only five food brands made the list, and three of those were fast food restaurants.
The fact that four of this year’s most loved brands are chocolate jibes well with other data suggesting that, for the past few months, indulgence has been on the menu. According to Nielsen data, U.S. consumers spent $3.7 billion on chocolate in the 17-week period that ended June 27, representing a 6.3% increase from the same time last year.
If you (like me) are among these chocolate-eating consumers, here’s something to make you feel less guilty about reaching for that next chocolate bar: new data from more than 336,000 people suggests that chocolate is good for your heart. Study participants who ate chocolate more than once a week had an 8% lower risk of blocked arteries than those who indulged less often. Eating chocolate is also linked to lower blood pressure, a lower risk of atrial fibrillation, and a reduced risk of dementia. Enjoy!
