Pub Date : 2025-10-17DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105754
Zining Wang , Yanzhe Yuan , Jaewoo Park
As the global population continues to grow, sustainable protein alternatives like insect-based foods are receiving increasing attention. However, despite their nutritional and environmental advantages, low consumer acceptance remains a major barrier to the successful commercialization and widespread adoption of insect-based foods. Given this challenge, the current research investigates whether scarcity appeals can enhance consumer acceptance of insect-based foods. Across three experiments (Study 1a, 1b, and 2) conducted with Chinese consumers, we demonstrate that demand-based scarcity messages (e.g., “limited due to high demand”) consistently increase acceptance of insect-based foods, primarily through enhanced perceptions of popularity. While supply-based scarcity also occasionally showed positive effects, its impact was less consistent across studies. Additionally, exploratory moderation analyses revealed that individual differences, such as food neophobia, need for uniqueness, and prior entomophagy experience, moderate the effectiveness of scarcity appeals. Specifically, the effects of demand-based scarcity were particularly pronounced among consumers who were more neophobic, less uniqueness-seeking, or inexperienced with insect consumption.
{"title":"Missing out is a loss: Investigating the effectiveness of scarcity appeals in promoting insect-based foods","authors":"Zining Wang , Yanzhe Yuan , Jaewoo Park","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105754","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105754","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the global population continues to grow, sustainable protein alternatives like insect-based foods are receiving increasing attention. However, despite their nutritional and environmental advantages, low consumer acceptance remains a major barrier to the successful commercialization and widespread adoption of insect-based foods. Given this challenge, the current research investigates whether scarcity appeals can enhance consumer acceptance of insect-based foods. Across three experiments (Study 1a, 1b, and 2) conducted with Chinese consumers, we demonstrate that demand-based scarcity messages (e.g., “limited due to high demand”) consistently increase acceptance of insect-based foods, primarily through enhanced perceptions of popularity. While supply-based scarcity also occasionally showed positive effects, its impact was less consistent across studies. Additionally, exploratory moderation analyses revealed that individual differences, such as food neophobia, need for uniqueness, and prior entomophagy experience, moderate the effectiveness of scarcity appeals. Specifically, the effects of demand-based scarcity were particularly pronounced among consumers who were more neophobic, less uniqueness-seeking, or inexperienced with insect consumption.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105754"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145326553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-17DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105756
Seonyeong Baek
This study examines how consumer trust shapes food label usage and satisfaction, and how these relationships evolve over time. Using nationally representative data from 5827 Korean adults in the 2022 Food Consumption Behavior Survey, we applied complex-sample regression models to analyze behavioral patterns and temporal dynamics. Trust functioned as a cognitive heuristic, increasing engagement with demanding labeling elements such as certifications, traceability, and production information. High-trust consumers combined multiple, value-based cues, whereas low-trust consumers relied mainly on basic cues such as price and expiration date. These differentiated patterns were consistently observed across vegetables and fruits, meat products, and processed foods. Evidence supported a reciprocal feedback system linking usage, trust, and satisfaction: satisfaction emerged as the strongest predictor of trust in cross-sectional models, and higher trust was associated with continued usage. Temporal analyses showed that increases in label usage and in trust were stronger predictors of current trust and usage than their baseline levels, underscoring the dynamic calibration of trust through repeated experiences. These findings portray trust not as a static belief but as a behavioral construct shaped by routine and meaningful encounters with labels. Practically, the results support stakeholder-specific approaches: for policymakers, enhancing the clarity and accessibility of credible certification information; for companies, designing transparent and emotionally resonant formats that sustain engagement; and for educators, developing stepwise programs that begin with familiar cues and progressively introduce more complex, value-based information.
{"title":"Consumer trust and behavioral dynamics in food label usage: evidence from a national survey in South Korea","authors":"Seonyeong Baek","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105756","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105756","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines how consumer trust shapes food label usage and satisfaction, and how these relationships evolve over time. Using nationally representative data from 5827 Korean adults in the 2022 Food Consumption Behavior Survey, we applied complex-sample regression models to analyze behavioral patterns and temporal dynamics. Trust functioned as a cognitive heuristic, increasing engagement with demanding labeling elements such as certifications, traceability, and production information. High-trust consumers combined multiple, value-based cues, whereas low-trust consumers relied mainly on basic cues such as price and expiration date. These differentiated patterns were consistently observed across vegetables and fruits, meat products, and processed foods. Evidence supported a reciprocal feedback system linking usage, trust, and satisfaction: satisfaction emerged as the strongest predictor of trust in cross-sectional models, and higher trust was associated with continued usage. Temporal analyses showed that increases in label usage and in trust were stronger predictors of current trust and usage than their baseline levels, underscoring the dynamic calibration of trust through repeated experiences. These findings portray trust not as a static belief but as a behavioral construct shaped by routine and meaningful encounters with labels. Practically, the results support stakeholder-specific approaches: for policymakers, enhancing the clarity and accessibility of credible certification information; for companies, designing transparent and emotionally resonant formats that sustain engagement; and for educators, developing stepwise programs that begin with familiar cues and progressively introduce more complex, value-based information.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105756"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145360103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-16DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105752
Aikaterini Katsikari , Paula Varela
Food texture significantly influences food perception and its acceptance or rejection, yet it remains relatively understudied. Research links texture to overeating, with dietary and health implications. Softer textures, often found in highly processed foods (HPFs), may promote faster consumption and potential overeating. However, how this affects different consumer groups is not well understood. This study explored how consumer preferences for food textures relate to eating behaviour and food choices, focusing on HPF consumption. An online questionnaire completed by 500 Norwegian adults assessed appetitive traits, food choice motives, sensory modalities underlying food preferences and rejection, and specific textural attributes using a Check-All-That-Apply question. Additional measures included sensitivity to texture—defined here as the behavioural dimension of individuals' emotionally and motivationally respond to the physical feel of food in the mouth, distinct from tactile acuity—self-reported eating rate, and dietary patterns using a short-screening tool for HPF consumption, integrating four classification systems. Hierarchical clustering was used based on sensitivity to texture. Two consumer segments emerged, differing in behavioural profiles, sensory drivers of acceptance and rejection, and reported intake of HPFs. Individuals with higher sensitivity to texture appeared more selective in their food choices and reported higher consumption of HPFs, influenced by multiple behavioural and perceptual factors. Based on these findings, a conceptual framework is proposed that defines sensitivity to texture as a multidimensional trait and explores its potential role in shaping food acceptance, satiety regulation, and HPF consumption. Results support food texture's influence on dietary patterns across consumer segments.
食物质地显著影响食物感知及其接受或拒绝,但这方面的研究相对较少。研究将质地与暴饮暴食联系起来,与饮食和健康有关。通常在高度加工食品(hpf)中发现的柔软质地可能会促进更快的消费和潜在的暴饮暴食。然而,这对不同消费者群体的影响还不是很清楚。这项研究探讨了消费者对食物质地的偏好与饮食行为和食物选择之间的关系,重点是HPF消费。一份由500名挪威成年人完成的在线问卷评估了食欲特征、食物选择动机、食物偏好和拒绝的感官模式,以及特定的质地属性,问卷采用了“check - all - thatapply”问题。其他测量包括对质地的敏感性(这里定义为个体对口中食物的物理感觉的情感和动机反应的行为维度,不同于触觉敏锐度)、自我报告的进食率,以及使用HPF消费的简短筛选工具的饮食模式,整合了四种分类系统。采用基于纹理敏感性的分层聚类方法。出现了两个消费者群体,他们在行为特征、接受和拒绝的感官驱动因素以及报告的hpf摄入量方面存在差异。受多种行为和感知因素的影响,对质地更敏感的个体在食物选择上表现得更有选择性,并报告了更高的hpf消费量。基于这些发现,作者提出了一个概念框架,将对质地的敏感性定义为一种多维特征,并探讨了其在塑造食物接受度、饱腹感调节和HPF消费中的潜在作用。研究结果支持食物质地对不同消费群体饮食模式的影响。
{"title":"Individual differences in sensitivity to texture as drivers of food preferences and eating behaviour","authors":"Aikaterini Katsikari , Paula Varela","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105752","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105752","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food texture significantly influences food perception and its acceptance or rejection, yet it remains relatively understudied. Research links texture to overeating, with dietary and health implications. Softer textures, often found in highly processed foods (HPFs), may promote faster consumption and potential overeating. However, how this affects different consumer groups is not well understood. This study explored how consumer preferences for food textures relate to eating behaviour and food choices, focusing on HPF consumption. An online questionnaire completed by 500 Norwegian adults assessed appetitive traits, food choice motives, sensory modalities underlying food preferences and rejection, and specific textural attributes using a Check-All-That-Apply question. Additional measures included sensitivity to texture—defined here as the behavioural dimension of individuals' emotionally and motivationally respond to the physical feel of food in the mouth, distinct from tactile acuity—self-reported eating rate, and dietary patterns using a short-screening tool for HPF consumption, integrating four classification systems. Hierarchical clustering was used based on sensitivity to texture. Two consumer segments emerged, differing in behavioural profiles, sensory drivers of acceptance and rejection, and reported intake of HPFs. Individuals with higher sensitivity to texture appeared more selective in their food choices and reported higher consumption of HPFs, influenced by multiple behavioural and perceptual factors. Based on these findings, a conceptual framework is proposed that defines sensitivity to texture as a multidimensional trait and explores its potential role in shaping food acceptance, satiety regulation, and HPF consumption. Results support food texture's influence on dietary patterns across consumer segments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105752"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145326550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-15DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105751
Yoowha Jeon , Hae-Jin Park , Seokbeom Kim , Jin-Kyu Rhee , Jieun Oh
Individuals differ in how they manipulate foods in the mouth—for example, some may suck on hard candy while others crunch it. These habitual oral actions are referred to as mouth behaviors (MB). While MB frameworks have been applied in Western contexts, little is known about their expression in Asian populations. This study examined MB patterns in Korea using a culturally adapted questionnaire completed by 1229 participants. Exploratory factor analysis identified three underlying factors—Effortless, Active, and Texture-Dependent mouth actions. Subsequent k-means clustering yielded four distinct consumer groups: Adaptive Processors (31.9 %), Active Processors (30.6 %), Effortless Processors (22.0 %), and Passive Processors (15.5 %). The clusters differed systematically by gender and age: women were more often Active or Effortless Processors, whereas men were more frequently Adaptive or Passive Processors; Effortless Processors were most common among younger adults, while Active Processors were more prevalent among older adults. The clusters also showed distinct response patterns on food liking items associated with chewing, crunching, sucking, and smooshing (Q21–Q24). Adaptive Processors gave moderate evaluations across all four categories, reflecting flexible oral strategies. Active Processors showed higher liking for foods linked with crunching actions, whereas Effortless Processors showed higher liking for foods associated with smooshing. In contrast, Passive Processors gave relatively lower evaluations across categories. Taken together, the findings support the applicability of the MB framework in a Korean context and demonstrate that these typologies are robust across cultural settings.
{"title":"How do you like to chew? Consumer segmentation from mouth behavior patterns","authors":"Yoowha Jeon , Hae-Jin Park , Seokbeom Kim , Jin-Kyu Rhee , Jieun Oh","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105751","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105751","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Individuals differ in how they manipulate foods in the mouth—for example, some may suck on hard candy while others crunch it. These habitual oral actions are referred to as mouth behaviors (MB). While MB frameworks have been applied in Western contexts, little is known about their expression in Asian populations. This study examined MB patterns in Korea using a culturally adapted questionnaire completed by 1229 participants. Exploratory factor analysis identified three underlying factors—Effortless, Active, and Texture-Dependent mouth actions. Subsequent k-means clustering yielded four distinct consumer groups: <em>Adaptive Processors</em> (31.9 %), <em>Active Processors</em> (30.6 %), <em>Effortless Processors</em> (22.0 %), and <em>Passive Processors</em> (15.5 %). The clusters differed systematically by gender and age: women were more often <em>Active</em> or <em>Effortless Processors</em>, whereas men were more frequently <em>Adaptive</em> or <em>Passive Processors</em>; <em>Effortless Processors</em> were most common among younger adults, while <em>Active Processors</em> were more prevalent among older adults. The clusters also showed distinct response patterns on food liking items associated with chewing, crunching, sucking, and smooshing (Q21–Q24). <em>Adaptive Processors</em> gave moderate evaluations across all four categories, reflecting flexible oral strategies. <em>Active Processors</em> showed higher liking for foods linked with crunching actions, whereas <em>Effortless Processors</em> showed higher liking for foods associated with smooshing. In contrast, <em>Passive Processors</em> gave relatively lower evaluations across categories. Taken together, the findings support the applicability of the MB framework in a Korean context and demonstrate that these typologies are robust across cultural settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105751"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145326552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-14DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105749
J.W. Vermetten , M.J.E. Urlings , E. van den Heuvel , L. Domínguez , V. Fernández-Ruiz , M. Cámara , A. de Boer
As the global population grows and environmental concerns intensify, adopting more sustainable protein sources becomes increasingly crucial. This study examines the influence of food neophobia (FN) and food technology neophobia (FTN) on consumers' willingness to try (WTT) novel alternative proteins, specifically insect- and plant-based proteins (mealworm and mung bean protein) and whey, as a familiar control protein. In this context, it also examines the impact of protein-related health claims and compares the responses of residents in two European countries, Spain and the Netherlands. Through an online survey, the WTT of whey, mung bean and mealworm protein were measured in 200 Dutch and 202 Spanish young adults (18–40 years). Results indicated that WTT was inversely correlated with FN for plant protein and insect protein and FTN for plant and insect protein. While this relationship is significant, it only explains between 5.3 and 12.3 % of the variance. A lower WTT was reported for insects than for plant protein (mean 3.0 vs 5.0 on a 7-point Likert scale). A protein-related health claim did not affect WTT. Spanish consumers showed similar results to Dutch consumers but had lower WTT for insect protein (mean 2.7 vs 3.3). This study reveals a promising opportunity for mung bean protein as a preferred dietary protein source for young adults in the European Union, while also highlighting the challenges in accepting mealworm protein. Transitioning to alternative proteins seems to require a source-specific approach.
随着全球人口的增长和环境问题的加剧,采用更可持续的蛋白质来源变得越来越重要。本研究考察了食品新恐惧症(FN)和食品技术新恐惧症(FTN)对消费者尝试新型替代蛋白(WTT)意愿的影响,特别是昆虫和植物蛋白(粉虫和绿豆蛋白)和乳清,作为一种熟悉的对照蛋白。在此背景下,它还研究了蛋白质相关健康声明的影响,并比较了西班牙和荷兰两个欧洲国家居民的反应。通过一项在线调查,测量了200名荷兰和202名西班牙年轻人(18-40岁)的乳清、绿豆和粉虫蛋白的WTT。结果表明,WTT与植物蛋白和昆虫蛋白的FN、植物蛋白和昆虫蛋白的FTN呈负相关。虽然这种关系很重要,但它只能解释5.3%到12.3%的差异。据报道,昆虫的WTT低于植物蛋白(在7点李克特量表上平均3.0 vs 5.0)。与蛋白质有关的健康声明对WTT没有影响。西班牙消费者的结果与荷兰消费者相似,但昆虫蛋白的WTT较低(平均2.7 vs 3.3)。这项研究揭示了绿豆蛋白作为欧盟年轻人首选的膳食蛋白质来源的一个有希望的机会,同时也强调了接受粉虫蛋白的挑战。过渡到替代蛋白质似乎需要一种特定于源的方法。
{"title":"Food neophobia affects willingness to try novel alternative proteins in young adults in Spain and the Netherlands","authors":"J.W. Vermetten , M.J.E. Urlings , E. van den Heuvel , L. Domínguez , V. Fernández-Ruiz , M. Cámara , A. de Boer","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105749","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105749","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the global population grows and environmental concerns intensify, adopting more sustainable protein sources becomes increasingly crucial. This study examines the influence of food neophobia (FN) and food technology neophobia (FTN) on consumers' willingness to try (WTT) novel alternative proteins, specifically insect- and plant-based proteins (mealworm and mung bean protein) and whey, as a familiar control protein. In this context, it also examines the impact of protein-related health claims and compares the responses of residents in two European countries, Spain and the Netherlands. Through an online survey, the WTT of whey, mung bean and mealworm protein were measured in 200 Dutch and 202 Spanish young adults (18–40 years). Results indicated that WTT was inversely correlated with FN for plant protein and insect protein and FTN for plant and insect protein. While this relationship is significant, it only explains between 5.3 and 12.3 % of the variance. A lower WTT was reported for insects than for plant protein (mean 3.0 vs 5.0 on a 7-point Likert scale). A protein-related health claim did not affect WTT. Spanish consumers showed similar results to Dutch consumers but had lower WTT for insect protein (mean 2.7 vs 3.3). This study reveals a promising opportunity for mung bean protein as a preferred dietary protein source for young adults in the European Union, while also highlighting the challenges in accepting mealworm protein. Transitioning to alternative proteins seems to require a source-specific approach.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105749"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145326558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Consumers encounter various visual cues while shopping, which influence their food choices. Additionally, concerns related to the use of nitrites in cured meats and the overall impact of animal breeding on the environment are transforming the European cured meat market. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in consumer (n = 66) visual attention to three sausages (conventional, nitrite-free, and plant-based) under both blind and informed (health risk, health benefit, and health plus environmental benefit) conditions in Ireland and Finland, using a wearable eye-tracker in combination with a food choice task and Flash Profile. Significant differences were observed in consumer visual attention between the countries. Consumers in Ireland were navigating between products, whereas those in Finland tended to focus on each product (or text) for longer periods without revisiting it. In both countries, most consumers in the blind condition chose the conventional product, followed by the plant-based alternative. In the informed condition, the conventional product remained the most preferred in Ireland, while in Finland, the plant-based alternative became the most popular. In Ireland, visual attention differences between products were minimal, but the nitrite-free sausage information text attracted the most attention. In Finland, however, under the blind condition, the plant-based alternative had significantly more dwells with fixation and revisit count. Lastly, dwell time, was the only measure found to be significant in predicting product choice. These results highlight the need for culture-specific approaches underscoring aspects of visual attention and information provision in driving healthier and sustainable food choices among consumers.
{"title":"Visual attention to nitrite-free and plant-based sausages alternatives: Effect of information and cross-cultural differences between Ireland and Finland","authors":"Stergios Melios , Emily Crofton , Fabio Tuccillo , Tuomo Häikiö , Mari Sandell","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105737","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105737","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Consumers encounter various visual cues while shopping, which influence their food choices. Additionally, concerns related to the use of nitrites in cured meats and the overall impact of animal breeding on the environment are transforming the European cured meat market. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in consumer (<em>n</em> = 66) visual attention to three sausages (conventional, nitrite-free, and plant-based) under both blind and informed (health risk, health benefit, and health plus environmental benefit) conditions in Ireland and Finland, using a wearable eye-tracker in combination with a food choice task and Flash Profile. Significant differences were observed in consumer visual attention between the countries. Consumers in Ireland were navigating between products, whereas those in Finland tended to focus on each product (or text) for longer periods without revisiting it. In both countries, most consumers in the blind condition chose the conventional product, followed by the plant-based alternative. In the informed condition, the conventional product remained the most preferred in Ireland, while in Finland, the plant-based alternative became the most popular. In Ireland, visual attention differences between products were minimal, but the nitrite-free sausage information text attracted the most attention. In Finland, however, under the blind condition, the plant-based alternative had significantly more dwells with fixation and revisit count. Lastly, dwell time, was the only measure found to be significant in predicting product choice. These results highlight the need for culture-specific approaches underscoring aspects of visual attention and information provision in driving healthier and sustainable food choices among consumers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105737"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145326559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105738
Lara Schomaker, Florian Fiebelkorn
This systematic literature review aims to investigate the factors influencing consumer acceptance of insect-based food products, incorporating studies from 2021 to May 2024. PRISMA guidelines were followed to identify relevant literature, which was subsequently analyzed using MAXQDA software. Furthermore, artificial intelligence was used throughout the screening process. The influencing factors are categorized into sociodemographic, psychological, emotional, social, dietary habits, product characteristics, and information-related aspects. By analyzing 126 studies from Western societies, we identify key drivers of acceptance, including gender, age, prior experience, attitudes, and curiosity, while noting barriers such as food neophobia, disgust, and dietary restrictions. This review provides valuable insights for marketers and policymakers aimed at promoting edible insects as sustainable protein alternatives and suggests further exploration of social influences on acceptance in future research.
{"title":"Acceptance of insect-based food products in Western societies: An updated review (2021–2024)","authors":"Lara Schomaker, Florian Fiebelkorn","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105738","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105738","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This systematic literature review aims to investigate the factors influencing consumer acceptance of insect-based food products, incorporating studies from 2021 to May 2024. PRISMA guidelines were followed to identify relevant literature, which was subsequently analyzed using MAXQDA software. Furthermore, artificial intelligence was used throughout the screening process. The influencing factors are categorized into sociodemographic, psychological, emotional, social, dietary habits, product characteristics, and information-related aspects. By analyzing 126 studies from Western societies, we identify key drivers of acceptance, including gender, age, prior experience, attitudes, and curiosity, while noting barriers such as food neophobia, disgust, and dietary restrictions. This review provides valuable insights for marketers and policymakers aimed at promoting edible insects as sustainable protein alternatives and suggests further exploration of social influences on acceptance in future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105738"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145326551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105734
Roberta Adorni, Maria Elide Vanutelli, Arianna Mammano, Viviana Carolina Cambieri, Marco D'Addario, Patrizia Steca
The prevailing dietary patterns across Western countries, characterized by reliance on animal-source products, represent significant contributors to health issues and environmental degradation. Growing evidence has highlighted the potential of transitioning from meat-heavy to more plant-rich diets to promote human health while respecting planetary boundaries. Psychological research contributes by studying people's attitudes and intentions to identify barriers and promoters of healthier food choices. This research falls within this framework, specifically focusing on plant-based protein food (PBPF). The primary aim was introducing AttiFood, a tool for investigating attitudes toward PBPF. The second was to apply AttiFood to examine the role of attitudes in increasing the intention to consume PBPF. The research consisted of three phases: creation and validation of a photographic set of stimuli featuring a wide range of protein sources, including animal- (i.e., red and white meat, fish, dairy, and eggs) and plant-based (i.e., legumes, grain, nuts and seeds) protein food; design and testing of a customized implicit association test; application study on an Italian sample assessing how the current behavior, automatic and explicit attitudes, and intentions intertwine. Results showed positive attitudes toward familiar and palatable plant-based protein food, although they were considered less tasty, convivial, and satisfying than animal-based counterparts. Multiple linear regression revealed current consumption and automatic and explicit attitudes as predictors of intention to increase PBPF consumption. This research suggests that promoting familiar and palatable alternatives to animal-based protein, as presented in the AttiFood tool, could inspire positive dietary changes.
{"title":"Not only veggies: Promoting healthy and familiar plant-based alternatives to traditional meat dishes with the AttiFood tool","authors":"Roberta Adorni, Maria Elide Vanutelli, Arianna Mammano, Viviana Carolina Cambieri, Marco D'Addario, Patrizia Steca","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105734","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105734","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The prevailing dietary patterns across Western countries, characterized by reliance on animal-source products, represent significant contributors to health issues and environmental degradation. Growing evidence has highlighted the potential of transitioning from meat-heavy to more plant-rich diets to promote human health while respecting planetary boundaries. Psychological research contributes by studying people's attitudes and intentions to identify barriers and promoters of healthier food choices. This research falls within this framework, specifically focusing on plant-based protein food (PBPF). The primary aim was introducing AttiFood, a tool for investigating attitudes toward PBPF. The second was to apply AttiFood to examine the role of attitudes in increasing the intention to consume PBPF. The research consisted of three phases: creation and validation of a photographic set of stimuli featuring a wide range of protein sources, including animal- (i.e., red and white meat, fish, dairy, and eggs) and plant-based (i.e., legumes, grain, nuts and seeds) protein food; design and testing of a customized implicit association test; application study on an Italian sample assessing how the current behavior, automatic and explicit attitudes, and intentions intertwine. Results showed positive attitudes toward familiar and palatable plant-based protein food, although they were considered less tasty, convivial, and satisfying than animal-based counterparts. Multiple linear regression revealed current consumption and automatic and explicit attitudes as predictors of intention to increase PBPF consumption. This research suggests that promoting familiar and palatable alternatives to animal-based protein, as presented in the AttiFood tool, could inspire positive dietary changes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105734"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145326554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Growing consumer interest in food traceability and sustainability has led to a greater focus on product certifications, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in the agri-food market. In this context, it is important to understand how consumers perceive these certifications and how influential they are in terms of purchasing decisions. This study analysed the impact of traceability, sustainability, and organic certifications on the food choices and perception of certified products among Italian consumers. It also examined consumer interest in five certified sustainable supply chains. The influence of two sociodemographic characteristics (gender and geographic affiliation) on the perceived value of certifications was examined, too. Data were collected through an online survey of 1250 Italian consumers. The Combination of Uniform and Shifted Binomial (CUB) model was used to evaluate perceptions across two key dimensions: feeling and uncertainty. The results showed that certifications play a central role in purchasing decisions and are strongly associated with safety and quality. Both geographic origin and gender were found to significantly affect consumers' perceptions and the importance they attach to certifications. This research contributes to the existing literature by investigating how gender and geographical identity interact to shape certification preferences and perceptions, considering both the strength of preference and the degree of uncertainty in final responses.
{"title":"Exploring the influence of traceability and sustainability certifications on consumers choices: A CUB model analysis with gender and geographical affiliations-based insights","authors":"Giulia Mastromonaco , Antonina Sparacino , Valentina Maria Merlino , Stefano Massaglia , Danielle Borra , Emanuela Vassallo , Fabrizio Massimelli , Simone Blanc","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105729","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105729","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Growing consumer interest in food traceability and sustainability has led to a greater focus on product certifications, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in the agri-food market. In this context, it is important to understand how consumers perceive these certifications and how influential they are in terms of purchasing decisions. This study analysed the impact of traceability, sustainability, and organic certifications on the food choices and perception of certified products among Italian consumers. It also examined consumer interest in five certified sustainable supply chains. The influence of two sociodemographic characteristics (gender and geographic affiliation) on the perceived value of certifications was examined, too. Data were collected through an online survey of 1250 Italian consumers. The Combination of Uniform and Shifted Binomial (CUB) model was used to evaluate perceptions across two key dimensions: feeling and uncertainty. The results showed that certifications play a central role in purchasing decisions and are strongly associated with safety and quality. Both geographic origin and gender were found to significantly affect consumers' perceptions and the importance they attach to certifications. This research contributes to the existing literature by investigating how gender and geographical identity interact to shape certification preferences and perceptions, considering both the strength of preference and the degree of uncertainty in final responses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105729"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145326232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-09DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105731
Apoorva Tripathi , Seema Sharma , Anushree Malik
Households constitute a significant source of food waste (FW) globally at the consumer level; however, there is a limited amount of primary data on avoidable food waste (AFW), particularly in emerging economies. This study used a mixed-methods approach to quantify AFW and explore its drivers in urban households in Delhi, India. Physical waste audits were conducted in 56 households, where waste was collected, sorted, and weighed for seven consecutive days. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were carried out to identify behavioural and contextual factors contributing to AFW. On average, households generated a modest amount of AFW per week. However, when extrapolated to the city level, the total annual AFW was substantial. Over one-third of the variation in daily AFW was due to differences between households. Household size was positively associated with AFW, suggesting that larger households tended to discard more AFW, though the increase was modest.
In contrast, a greater number of children was linked to slightly lower levels of AFW. Waste generation remained stable across the week, with cereals being the most wasted category, followed by fruits and vegetables. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed that key drivers of AFW included individual tendencies, a lack of mindfulness while handling food, perceptions of food quality and edibility, household dynamics, and unanticipated workplace and social events. These findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions focused on everyday behaviour, such as poor planning, overcooking, and lack of coordination among household members, to promote more sustainable food management and reduce AFW.
{"title":"Household food waste behaviour in Delhi, India: Insights from a mixed methods study","authors":"Apoorva Tripathi , Seema Sharma , Anushree Malik","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105731","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105731","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Households constitute a significant source of food waste (FW) globally at the consumer level; however, there is a limited amount of primary data on avoidable food waste (AFW), particularly in emerging economies. This study used a mixed-methods approach to quantify AFW and explore its drivers in urban households in Delhi, India. Physical waste audits were conducted in 56 households, where waste was collected, sorted, and weighed for seven consecutive days. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were carried out to identify behavioural and contextual factors contributing to AFW. On average, households generated a modest amount of AFW per week. However, when extrapolated to the city level, the total annual AFW was substantial. Over one-third of the variation in daily AFW was due to differences between households. Household size was positively associated with AFW, suggesting that larger households tended to discard more AFW, though the increase was modest.</div><div>In contrast, a greater number of children was linked to slightly lower levels of AFW. Waste generation remained stable across the week, with cereals being the most wasted category, followed by fruits and vegetables. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed that key drivers of AFW included individual tendencies, a lack of mindfulness while handling food, perceptions of food quality and edibility, household dynamics, and unanticipated workplace and social events. These findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions focused on everyday behaviour, such as poor planning, overcooking, and lack of coordination among household members, to promote more sustainable food management and reduce AFW.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105731"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145264911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}