Consumer acceptance of functional foods: socio-demographic, cognitive and attitudinal determinants

被引:483
作者
Verbeke, W [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Ghent, Dept Agr Econ, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
关键词
functional foods; consumer acceptance; attitude; knowledge; health;
D O I
10.1016/j.foodqual.2004.01.001
中图分类号
TS2 [食品工业];
学科分类号
0832 ;
摘要
Despite the forecast of a bright future for functional foods, which constitute the single fastest growing segment in the food market, critiques arise as to whether this food category will deliver upon its promises. One of the key success factors pertains to consumer acceptance of the concept of functional foods, which is covered in this study. Data collected from a consumer sample (n = 215) in Belgium during March 2001 are analysed with the aim to gain a better understanding of consumer acceptance of functional foods. Functional food acceptance is defined as giving a score of minimum 3 on a 5-point scale, simultaneously for acceptance if the food tastes good, and if the food tastes somewhat worse as compared to its conventional counterpart. With this specification, 46.5% of the sample claimed to accept the concept of functional foods. A multivariate probit model is specified and estimated to test the simultaneous impact of socio-demographic, cognitive and attitudinal factors. Belief in the health benefits of functional foods is the main positive determinant of acceptance. The likelihood of functional food acceptance also increases with the presence of an ill family member, though decreases with a high level of claimed knowledge or awareness of the concept. This adverse impact of high awareness decreases with increasing consumer age. Belief, knowledge and presence of an ill family member outweigh socio-demographics as potential determinants, contrary to previous reports profiling functional food users. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:45 / 57
页数:13
相关论文
共 74 条
[61]   Consumer responses to an off-flavor in juice in the presence of specific health claims [J].
Tuorila, H ;
Cardello, AV .
FOOD QUALITY AND PREFERENCE, 2002, 13 (7-8) :561-569
[62]   Food neophobia among the Finns and related responses to familiar and unfamiliar foods [J].
Tuorila, H ;
Lähteenmäki, L ;
Pohjalainen, L ;
Lotti, L .
FOOD QUALITY AND PREFERENCE, 2001, 12 (01) :29-37
[63]   Of milk and mandarins: rBST, mandated science and the Canadian regulatory style [J].
Turner, RS .
JOURNAL OF CANADIAN STUDIES-REVUE D ETUDES CANADIENNES, 2001, 36 (03) :107-130
[64]   Profile and effects of consumer involvement in fresh meat [J].
Verbeke, W ;
Vackier, I .
MEAT SCIENCE, 2004, 67 (01) :159-168
[65]  
Verbeke W., 2000, Agribusiness (New York), V16, P215, DOI 10.1002/(SICI)1520-6297(200021)16:2&lt
[66]  
215::AID-AGR6&gt
[67]  
3.0.CO
[68]  
2-S
[69]   Beliefs, attitude and behaviour towards fresh meat revisited after the Belgian dioxin crisis [J].
Verbeke, W .
FOOD QUALITY AND PREFERENCE, 2001, 12 (08) :489-498
[70]  
Verbeke W., 2001, ANN NUTR METAB, V45, P114