Understanding the relationship between age and seafood consumption: the mediating role of attitude,health involvement and convenience

This study discusses and analyses the relationship between the consumer's chronological age and frequent consumption of seafood, and how this relationship is mediated by three psychological variables: Attitudes/preferences towards eating seafood, involvement in healthy eating and perceived time used to prepare meals (convenience). This is done by cross-sectional data and with the assumption that people's life course is important in modelling food consumption behaviour. By using structural equation modelling, we were able to estimate the strength and direction of direct and indirect relationships between external, internal and behavioural variables as proposed in general attitude theory. Age is positively related to the frequency of seafood consumption. This relationship is mediated by attitudes toward eating seafood, health involvement and perceived convenience. In developing and testing conceptual models which integrate the relationship between age and psychological mediator variables, we may approach a deeper understanding of the more complex relationship between external and internal psychological variables in people's selection of food over their life course.     

军队食品安全标准化建设存在的问题及对策

军队食品安全标准化建设存在标准化机构不健全、建设资源统筹力度不够、标准化体系不完善、标准重复交叉且更新周期慢、执行监管力度不够、饮食保障实际中有标难依、建设经费投入不足、标准研究力量相对薄弱等问题。本文针对这些问题提出以下对策:加强军队食品安全标准化建设应统筹规划,完善标准化体系建设;科学管理,建立标准更新机制;应对需求,推进食品安全标准化建设;推进融合,引用转化民用食品安全标准;加大投入,增强科研技术力量等,以确保部队食品安全。     

Olfactory priming for eating behavior – The influence of non-conscious exposure to food odors on specific appetite,food preferences and intake

Sensory food cues in our surroundings, such as odors, trigger decisions that may lead to (over)eating. These cues occur mainly outside of people’s awareness. Therefore, it is crucial to better understand the effect of (non-consciously exposure of) food odors on behavioral responses. Moreover, sensory-specific appetite suggests that food odor exposure may enhance appetite for products with similar properties in taste and calorie content, inferring that we can detect nutrient content of the food through our sense of smell. Our previous research showed that conscious exposure to macronutrient-related odors influenced specific appetite but not food preferences or intake. However, eating behavior responses may differ depending on the level of awareness of the odor cue. Therefore, in our current study, we aimed to determine the influence of non-conscious exposure to macronutrient-related odors on specific appetite, food preferences and food intake. 34 healthy, normal-weight and unrestrained Dutch females underwent four sessions where they were non-consciously exposed to odors representing food high in carbohydrates, protein and fat, and low-calorie foods. Eating behavior was assessed through a specific appetite questionnaire, a computer task on macronutrient and taste food preferences, and actual food intake by means of a salad bar which included toppings representing the different macronutrients. Results show that non-conscious exposure to macronutrient-signaling odors does not influence congruent appetite, food preferences nor food intake of a main meal. Follow-up research should focus on different odor exposure (intensity and exposure time) and outcomes measures to have a better understanding of olfactory priming on eating behavior.     

Consumer preferences for the color of unprocessed animal foods

Consumer choices for food products are often based on appearance; one important aspect being product color. We systematically review the literature on consumer preferences for the color of raw beef, pork, poultry, bee honey, cow milk, and chicken eggs to inform future food technology and marketing research; a total of 40 studies were identified. Consumer preferences for pork color vary widely globally and can depend on other demographic factors. A trend toward light and bright beef was observed in six out of eight studies. A pink color was preferred in chicken by consumers in Northern Ireland and Brazil; muscle color uniformity was also related to higher acceptance. Contrarily, a diverse selection of honey colors is preferred; dark golden, yellow, and amber products were liked by consumers across the globe. One study observed a preference for white (over yellowish) milk. Worldwide, white and brown eggshells are preferred nearly equally with considerable differences between continents and regions. Our review highlights the heterogeneity of color preferences for animal products, worldwide; research methods should focus on quantifying colors associated with preferences so that food producers can accurately market their diverse products in regions with corresponding color preferences.     

我国食品理化实验室专业技术人员的食品安全知信行调查及影响因素分析

目的 了解我国食品理化实验室专业技术人员食品安全知识、态度、行为现状,探讨其影响因素。方法 对我国15个省的省级、市级、区（县）级部门下属食品理化实验室及第三方机构、企业等非政府机构食品理化实验室的专业技术人员开展食品安全知识、态度、行为问卷调查,并对调查结果进行统计分析。结果 共回收有效问卷1339份。除性别对态度得分无显著影响,文化程度、就职年限等对行为无显著影响外,年龄、实验室类型、所在区域和最近一次接受培训时间等均是影响食品理化检验人员食品安全知识、态度、行为得分的因素,且知识、态度和行为得分存在正相关关系。结论 尽管存在满分问卷,但食品理化实验室专业技术人员KAP平均得分仅略高于及格水平。需要关注重点人群,如年龄25岁以下、就职年限2年以下或大专及以下学历的专业技术人员等食品安全知识水平的提升、态度的端正和行为的规范。     

Attitude-behaviour dissonance regarding the importance of food preservation for customers

The aim of the study was to identify the importance of individual food product attributes (the use of preservatives, processing method, shelf-life period and nutritional value) as well as their relation to the purchase behaviour. To achieve this, consumer preferences were decomposed in conditions of full access to information, and data was compared with actual consumer behaviour related to making purchasing decisions in front of the store shelf. Based on data from 338 respondents, conjoint analysis and repeated ANOVA measurements were carried out, allowing to eliminate individual behavioural patterns. The results showed a dissonance between the consumers attitudes towards the attributes and their shopping behaviour. The processing method was the most important declared attribute for consumers, meanwhile this information was the least searched for during purchase. At the same time, shelf-life period marked as the least important was the main information searched for by consumers when shopping. The results also show a clear dislike towards the use of microwaves as a preservation method, while traditional thermal preservation was marked as the most positive for consumers. In addition, consumers were classified into 3 heterogeneous groups, identifying differences in the preferences of food attributes. The obtained results have practical value relating not only to the preferences of individual attributes, but also to their various variants. The results can be a guide for companies to properly label food products. The indicated dissonance illustrates the educational gap and related insufficient motivation to get to know the product before buying it. This is extremely important in connection with technological development and new food processing methods.     

Towards connectionist models of food consumer attitudes

This paper is in keeping with a long term research program in the field of marketing and particularly in the study of consumer behaviour. In continuation with the cognitivist paradigm, a connectionist approach to attitude modelling is proposed and the theoretical and metatheoretical bases of this research are presented. This orientation consists of studying how the recourse to the neural networks should be constituting an interesting and innovative decision support in this field. This research is particularly based on Beckwith and Lehmann's (1975) model which is inspired by Fishbein's (1963) linear and additive representation of the attitude concept and Bass and Talarzyk's (1972) model. It is demonstrated how a basic automata network can improve knowledge of attitude dynamics by showing different attractors (fixed points and limit cycles). This work opens a new research axis in the food marketing area.     

Spiritual aspects of meat and nutritional security: Perspectives and responsibilities of the Abrahamic faiths

For devotees of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, food that does not meet standards of ‘spiritual quality’ in its production or preparation may be unsuitable for consumption. Regardless of availability and affordability, such food may as well be absent from the marketplace. Given that an estimated 55% of the world population is affiliated with these three Abrahamic faiths, the spiritual condition of food should be considered when measuring and assuring global nutritional security. A first step, and the aim of this article, is to raise awareness of the laws and customs that relate to the production, distribution and eating of food, with emphasis on the central role of ‘meat security’ in ancient and modern societies. Permissions and prohibitions stipulated in the Torah, Bible and Quran are described, along with interpretations and research from current literature. Religious customs have implications for modern methods of food production, particularly when meeting the needs of consumers who depend on Jewish kosher (fit or proper) and Islamic halal (lawful) meat supply. The on-going food security of these communities is at risk where local legislation and regulations restrict traditional practices such as religious slaughter of meat animals.     

Research challenges and methods to study food preferences in school-aged children: A review of the last 15 years

Until only a few decades ago, there was little interest in research about children as consumers. Today, the food market for ‘‘the small consumers’’ is continuously growing and many foods and beverages are developed specifically for this target group. Furthermore, a better understanding of children’s food preferences could help design strategies to reduce obesity and malnutrition. The present review examines the main research domains in which measurements of children’s food preferences are applied. It also gives an overview of the progress made during the last 15 years in the field of consumer testing with children, highlighting the need of investigating and using new methods in addition to existing ones. Attention is devoted to the choice of specific methods according to the child’s age.An intense interest in consumer and sensory research with children is demonstrated by the systematic increase of scientific publications on this topic. A shift in research methodology has been observed in the last 15 years, being research more focused on feeding behavior and healthy eating. Recent investigations confirm that children in the age range of 4–11 years are able to perform most traditional consumer tests in addition to more sophisticated methods (e.g. projective mapping, memory and emotion evaluation) if age-appropriate procedures are adopted.     

消费者偏好的变化对欧盟农业和食品政策的影响:一个宏观概览

由于经济福利的改善、农业生产率的提高、消费者健康意识的增强和食品安全危机等多重影响,欧盟消费者对食品的偏好特征发生了改变,推动了欧盟农业和食品政策关注点从传统的供给和收入问题向食品质量和安全问题转变。本文在论述了消费者偏好变化和欧盟农业与食品政策变革的基础上,分析讨论了消费者对欧盟政策和标准的影响。     

Glass transition and flowability/caking behaviour of maltodextrin DE 21

Maltodextrin DE 21 is a spray dried amorphous powder that is commonly used as an ingredient in the food industry. The powder or an ingredient mix containing the powder can form very strong cakes if exposed to certain consolidating pressures and climatic conditions. In particular, it was believed that the glass transition can influence its caking behaviour. Consequently, the focus of this study was to investigate the influence of exposing maltodextrin DE 21 powder to temperatures around its glass transition and to measure its flowability or cake strength using a ring shear tester. To enable this work, the influence of water content on the onset glass transition temperature was measured along with the sorption isotherm of the powder. The ring shear testing showed that the maltodextrin powder readily formed a very strong cake over time when it was exposed to temperatures that were at or above its onset glass transition temperature. Maintaining the powder temperature at 4 °C below its glass transition should prevent the powder from caking.     

Paired preference tests: ‘Liking’, ‘Buying’ and ‘Take Away’ preferences

Paired preference tests of liking require consumers to specify which of two foods are preferred or whether there is no preference. For ‘Buying’ preference tests, consumers specify which of two foods they are more likely to buy or whether there is no operational difference in likelihood to buy. The former test is designed to predict choice behaviour, the latter, buying behaviour. To validate the predictive ability of such tests, consumer choice and buying behaviour should be observed for several months. Another approach is to allow consumers to take away some of the foods used in the test and observe what they take. Consumers of potato chips were required to taste chips whose flavour and appearance were obviously different. A first group (N = 109) were given a traditional paired preference test of liking. A second group (N = 108) were given a preference test of buying. A third group (N = 101) were given both tests. After the test, out of sight of the experimenter, consumers were presented with two rows of plain plastic ‘snack’ bags, filled with the chips used in the test. They could take away either two bags of the same type of chip (a ‘Take Away’ preference) or one of each type (no ‘Take Away’ preference) or take neither (rejection). ‘Liking’ preferences predicted what was taken away for only 48% of consumers for the first group and 45% (third group). For ‘Buying’ preferences, the correspondence was 56% (second group) and 60% (third group). Using buying tests separately or together with liking produced some differences. More reliably, approximately 60% of consumers in all groups chose one bag of each. ‘Take Away’ preferences suggested low predictability for paired preference tests of liking and buying. ‘Take Away’ preferences are not a substitute for following a consumer for several months but they are a step in the right direction.     

Crisis communication,anticipated food scarcity,and food preferences: Preregistered evidence of the insurance hypothesis

Whereas large-scale consumption of energy-dense foods contributes to climate change, we investigated whether exposure to climate change-induced food scarcity affects preferences toward these foods. Humans’ current psychological mechanisms have developed in their ancestral evolutionary past to respond to immediate threats and opportunities. Consequently, these mechanisms may not distinguish between cues to actual food scarcity and cues to food scarcity distant in time and space. Drawing on the insurance hypothesis, which postulates that humans should respond to environmental cues to food scarcity through increased energy consumption, we predicted that exposing participants to climate change-induced food scarcity content increases their preferences toward energy-dense foods, with this effect being particularly pronounced in women. Three experiments—including one preregistered laboratory study—confirm this notion. Our findings jointly demonstrate that receiving information about food shortages distant in time and space can influence current food preferences.     

Why buying functional foods? Understanding spending behaviour through structural equation modelling

The market for functional foods has been growing steadily in recent years, as it is linked to a healthier diet and adds value to food products. However, more information regarding aspects that influence functional food (FF) spending behaviour is needed to gain a better understanding of what underlies FF choice and avoid product failure. The objective of this study was to build a structural equation model of Spaniards' FF spending behaviour, based on individual characteristics such as satisfaction with life, decision-making styles, gender, age and some attitudes towards food choice. This required prior validation of the functional food questionnaire for a Spanish context, which was another objective of the present work. The findings suggest that a positive attitude (reward, necessity, confidence) and novelty are good predictors of FF spending.     

Consumer willingness to pay for shelf life of high-temperature,short-time-pasteurized fluid milk: Implications for smart labeling and food waste reduction

Food waste in the United States was valued at $285 billion in 2019, representing 70% of all food surplus; dairy and eggs alone represented 15.90% of food surplus. Milk is the fifth most consumed beverage in the United States, and therefore its contribution to food waste has significant economic and environmental ramifications. Smart labels that provide precise spoilage information for fluid milk may help reduce food waste in fluid milk, but it is unclear if consumers will accept or pay for this novel technology. This paper examines consumer preferences for high temperature, short time pasteurized fluid milk shelf life and smart date labels and tests how information about the environmental impact of fluid milk food waste affects consumers' acceptance and willingness to pay. We used a choice-based conjoint study administered in an online survey, along with a between-subject experiment to measure preferences under different information treatments about the environmental impact of food waste. Our results suggest that consumers' valuations of extended shelf life and an ecolabel is positive; however, using the smart label creates disutility for consumers, thereby hindering acceptance of new labeling technology that may facilitate food waste reduction in the milk industry. These findings imply that retailers should find alternative means to enhance the communication of precise shelf life information and its role in reducing food waste.     

Structural and mechanical characteristics of bread and their impact on oral processing: a review

Oral processing has become an important area of research in sensory and nutrition studies. Mastication process not only determines the dynamics of flavour release and texture perception but also affects the bioavailability of nutrients. Oral processing of bread is of particular interest because of the need to reduce its glycaemic potential while keeping its desired soft and aerated texture. Bread structure determines its mechanical strength and deformation behaviour which in turn decides people's texture perception and swallowing thresholds. The strong interconnection between food structure and its resistance to breakdown is the rationale behind designing bread to control bread digestion, starting from the oral phase. The present review summarises the characterisation and formation of bread structure, its interlink with bread mechanical behaviour and destruction during human oral processing. Future research should further elucidate the structure–mechanics–digestion interlink by implementing relevant mechanical analyses and micromechanical modelling.     

Effect of multiple extrinsic cues on consumers’ willingness to buy apples: A scenario-based study

Price, origin, and type of production are all known to influence consumer choices when it comes to fresh food. However, the interactions between these factors have received limited attention in the food choice literature. With the growth of online grocery shopping services, another under-investigated issue is the willingness to buy (WTB) fresh food products sold online. Our aim was to partially fill these gaps, by applying a scenario-based methodology. We exposed 324 individuals to 54 scenarios describing a situation in which a character goes to buy apples. The scenarios featured all possible combinations of four within-participants factors: purchase site (traditional market or online grocery shopping service), origin (within 50 km of the character’s home, elsewhere in France, or foreign country), price (low, average, or high), and type of production (organic, sustainable or conventional farming). For each scenario, participants rated their WTB for the apples on sale. Analyses conducted on the whole sample showed that consumers’ WTB was higher for locally grown, organic, and low-priced apples. Furthermore, cluster analysis revealed three consumer segments with different behavioral profiles. Price-sensitive consumers’ WTB was higher for imported apples at a low price than for local apples at a high price. Non-online consumers unconditionally rejected the online grocery shopping service regardless of the apples’ price, origin, and type of production. Organic consumers were more willing to buy imported organic apples than domestic conventional ones. Hence, consumers’ preferences for domestic products should be interpreted in the light of factors such as price and type of production.     

新材料及其在食品安全检测中的应用

近年来,随着食品安全问题呈现出的复杂性和多样性,食品安全面临着严峻挑战,因此如何保证食品安全已经成为了社会各界关注的重大问题。新材料是指近年来发展的或正在研发的、性能超群的一些材料,具有比传统材料更加优异的性能。各类新材料的研发与广泛使用,能够及时检测出食品中的各种有害物质,为食品安全检测提供很大帮助。本研究首先对新材料迚行了简单的阐述和概括;其次对几种研究较多新材料迚行介绍,比如石墨烯等低维碳纳米材料;最后对几种新材料在食品安全检测中的应用迚行总结。旨在为新材料的研发及在食品安全检测中的应用提供参考。     

基于颜色识别技术的COD自动测定仪在食品接触材料中的应用

传统的高锰酸钾消耗量（COD）实验方法是多年来使用较广泛的检测方法,以其实验原理及操作简单、实验成本低被应用于食品接触材料及制品的检测中。但传统的COD实验方法在应对大量待测样品时有检测效率低、人力成本投入大等劣势。近年来出现了一些基于电位滴定的COD自动滴定仪,但该类型的COD自动滴定仪与传统的COD实验方法在原理上有本质不同。而基于颜色识别技术的COD自动测定仪在保持与传统实验方法原理相同的情况下,可代替人工,且在技术指标上满足实验要求,实现自动化,提高检测效率。介绍一种基于颜色识别技术的COD自动测定仪,并通过实验数据对自动滴定仪进行改进优化。