How Does Consumers’ Perception Influence Their Food Choices?

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 3935

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
Interests: food acceptance; consumer behavior; food preference; sensory perception; food choice
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
Interests: biochemistry; focusing on metabolism and bioenergetics; iron; bioavailability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Some foods provide nutrients that will maintain the body’s biological functions. The choice of food is influenced by factors such as the knowledge and understanding that the consumer has about the quality of natural or processed foods and the credibility of industrialized formulations influenced by current trends (products for vegans, plant-based products, foods supplemented with proteins, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, bioactive compounds etc.). This Special Issue aims to identify how gender, social status, education level, flavor, price, health, and convenience factors can contribute to consumers’ behavior.

Prof. Dr. Wilma Araújo
Prof. Dr. Sandra Fernandes Arruda
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • food choices
  • acceptance
  • eating behaviour
  • consumer perception
  • consumer understanding
  • consumer preference
  • consumer behaviour
  • consumer evaluations
  • consumer attitudes
 

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 622 KiB  
Article
Understanding Consumers’ Purchase Intention Towards Meat Produced Without Preventive Antibiotic Use
by Yingnan Zhou, Airong Zhang, Rieks Dekker van Klinken and Junxiu Wang
Foods 2024, 13(23), 3779; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13233779 - 25 Nov 2024
Viewed by 345
Abstract
Antibiotics are widely used to prevent healthy animals from getting diseases in livestock industries. Such practice has greatly contributed to the increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens in animals and in the environment, which poses severe health threats to humans. This study aims to investigate [...] Read more.
Antibiotics are widely used to prevent healthy animals from getting diseases in livestock industries. Such practice has greatly contributed to the increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens in animals and in the environment, which poses severe health threats to humans. This study aims to investigate consumers’ purchase intention towards meat produced without preventive antibiotic use, and to identify key factors influencing this purchase intention. An online survey of 1123 participants was conducted in China. Descriptive statistical analysis, correlation, and regression analysis were conducted. The results suggested that consumers had a negative attitude towards preventive antibiotic use in food animals and a strong purchase intention towards meat produced without it. The key drivers of this purchase intention included health consciousness, trust in responsible antibiotic use in farming, objective knowledge about antibiotics used in food animals, subjective knowledge about preventive antibiotic use, concerns over antibiotic residues, and attitude towards preventive antibiotic use. These findings can provide deep insights for policymakers and livestock industries who seek to promote responsible antibiotic use and develop effective communication strategies with consumers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue How Does Consumers’ Perception Influence Their Food Choices?)
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18 pages, 967 KiB  
Article
Purchase Intention of Healthy Foods: The Determinant Role of Brand Image in the Market of a Developing Country
by Elizabeth Emperatriz García-Salirrosas, Manuel Escobar-Farfán, Iván Veas-González, Jorge Alberto Esponda-Perez, Rodrigo Gallardo-Canales, Rodrigo Ruiz-Andia, Virginia Mercedes Fernandez-Daza and Rosa Fabiana Zabalaga-Davila
Foods 2024, 13(20), 3242; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13203242 - 12 Oct 2024
Viewed by 2208
Abstract
In the current consumer context, the trend towards a healthy lifestyle has significantly increased the demand for healthy foods. This study aims to identify the relationship between the brand image (BI) and purchase intention (PI) of these products and how variables such as [...] Read more.
In the current consumer context, the trend towards a healthy lifestyle has significantly increased the demand for healthy foods. This study aims to identify the relationship between the brand image (BI) and purchase intention (PI) of these products and how variables such as perceived brand quality (BPQ) and brand satisfaction (BS) influence brand trust (BT) and brand loyalty (BL) in this relationship. The methodology includes a quantitative approach, using non-probability convenience sampling. Using an online survey, data were collected from 637 consumers. Analyses were performed using structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS). The results show no significant correlation between BI and PI, but BI significantly impacts BPQ, BS, BT, and BL. Furthermore, BPQ positively influences BS, BT, and BL, but it does not have a direct influence on PI. The findings suggest that a positive brand image satisfies consumers and generates long-term trust and loyalty. However, perceived quality does not always translate into purchase intention due to various barriers. Practical implications highlight the importance of building a strong and positive brand image to encourage demand for healthy products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue How Does Consumers’ Perception Influence Their Food Choices?)
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18 pages, 3598 KiB  
Article
Perception, Knowledge, and Consumption Potential of Crude and Refined Palm Oil in Brazilian Regions
by Alana Moreira Bispo, Agnes Sophia Braga Alves, Edilene Ferreira da Silva, Fernanda Doring Krumreich, Itaciara Larroza Nunes and Camila Duarte Ferreira Ribeiro
Foods 2024, 13(18), 2923; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13182923 - 15 Sep 2024
Viewed by 857
Abstract
Crude palm oil (CPO) is the most produced vegetable oil globally, with Brazil contributing only 0.74% of global production. Pará and Bahia account for more than 82% of Brazil’s output. Despite its widespread use in the food industry after refining, there is little [...] Read more.
Crude palm oil (CPO) is the most produced vegetable oil globally, with Brazil contributing only 0.74% of global production. Pará and Bahia account for more than 82% of Brazil’s output. Despite its widespread use in the food industry after refining, there is little research on CPO consumption and perception in Brazil, particularly regarding its nutritional aspects. This study, conducted between March and July 2022, explored Brazilians’ perceptions and the potential for CPO consumption. The results show that most participants are unfamiliar with CPO but view its nutrients favorably. Less than half regularly purchase CPO. Refined palm oil (RPO) is even less known, with many unaware that refining CPO can produce carcinogenic substances. The respondents showed little concern about RPO in their foods, rarely noticing its presence on labels. Despite limited knowledge, participants understand that refining reduces CPO’s health benefits, leading to a greater preference for crude oil over refined oil. This study highlights the need for better dissemination of information about CPO in Brazil, emphasizing its nutritional benefits and the importance of adhering to daily lipid intake limits. Adding CPO at the end of cooking or consuming it raw to preserve thermosensitive compounds is also recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue How Does Consumers’ Perception Influence Their Food Choices?)
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