Ice cream has a permanent spot in Americans' hearts and bowls, with nearly nine in ten Americans calling it one of their favorite desserts. But even with all this love, how well do people really know their favorite sweet treat? More than 60% of U.S. consumers said they didn't know ice cream has a legal definition, but there is one: according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, ice cream is a stirred-frozen dairy product with the required milkfat, milk solids, weight, ingredients, and production characteristics to meet the legal standard.

Once people learned the difference between real ice cream and frozen dairy desserts, most (70%) said they are likely to check the label before buying a frozen treat. Of that group, 41% said they are very likely.

"We've been delivering dairy products that are better than they have to be since 1909, and our ice cream is no different – using more cream to achieve a higher milkfat than legally required to be considered real ice cream," said Hunter Clayton, Senior R&D Associate Scientist, TCCA. "We believe consumers deserve the facts about what's really in their freezer. Chances are you've picked up a frozen dairy dessert thinking it was real ice cream. Consider this your newsflash: The Real Scoop is our way of giving consumers the full picture before they reach into that freezer."

Tillamook brings the real deal in every bite across formats including Ice Cream Bars, Pints (open with caution if you don't want to share), and Family Size tubs in fan-favorite flavors like Tillamook Mudslide and Oregon Strawberry. Back by popular demand and now available all year long are Campfire Peanut Butter Cup and Orange and Cream. Every carton of Tillamook Ice Cream is packed with cream because as a farmer-owned dairy co-op, Tillamook knows the most important ingredient in ice cream is, well, cream.

Extra, Extra

• Consumers are tired of being confused by what's in their freezer. Upon learning the difference between frozen dairy desserts and real ice cream, 87% were surprised, frustrated, curious, or motivated to start reading labels more closely.
• Younger shoppers know their stuff: 50% of Gen Z and 44% of millennials knew ice cream has a legal definition, compared with 30% of Gen X and 22% of baby boomers.

More Sweet Stats

• What's the most important ice cream quality? 79% say creaminess matters most, with 64% prioritizing flavor and 30% caring about ingredient quality.
• Americans favor the classics: Vanilla, Chocolate, and Cookies and Cream lead the pack with Strawberry close behind. And the toppings champ? Hot fudge.
• Bowl/cup or Cone? Bowl/cup, please. 61% say that is the best way to eat ice cream.

Now, grab your big spoon and go fill the freezer with rich, incredibly creamy Tillamook ice cream.