Shoppers under 30 buy more organic products than their older counterparts, with 23 percent of respondents saying they regularly purchased organic fruit and vegetables – an increase of nine percent on the year before.

But the trend is not mirrored among older shoppers, with those buying eco-friendly food in decline. In 2012, 26 percent of those questioned aged 50 to 59 said they bought the products frequently. That number is now at 19 percent.

The number of people never buying organic products also increased among the over 60s by eight percent in the year, the agricultural ministry said.

Agricultural minister Isle Aigner said: “Organic food continues to be fashionable. People value quality and taste of the product.”

Consumers said the fact that many of the products were locally sourced was the most important reason for them buying them, according to magazine Der Spiegel.

But the majority of respondents – 60 percent – did not think that organic products were immune to farming scandals. Out of those who regularly bought the products, 63 percent said they trusted them more than conventionally produced food, the magazine said.

The Local/tsb