A Survey on Consumer Awareness on Proper Usage of Edible Oils in North-Western and Western Provinces in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Purpose: Lack of the consumer awareness on edible oil usage is an important question to be addressed since the awareness on preserving the quality of oil assists in preventing harmful health effects. The main objective of this study was to determine consumer awareness on storage conditions and proper usage to preserve the oil quality. Moreover, the study evaluated the consumers' awareness on the health effects of edible oils. Research Method: An online survey was conducted using 295 participants from North-Western and Western provinces, Sri Lanka. The data was analysed using-Pearson correlation, chi-square and factor analysis. Findings: The main findings suggested that a majority of respondents (96.6 %) used coconut oil as the frying oil. The respondents showed inadequate knowledge on proper storage: 12 % did not practice any precautionary storage methods, while 53 % of the respondents were particularly aware on common health effects and 58 % was aware on proper usage of oil. The results showed that consumers from North-Western and Western provinces in Sri Lanka were not sufficiently knowledgeable on proper storage of edible oil which can lead to adverse health effects. Research Limitations: It is beyond the scope of the study to address the awareness of the consumers on proper usage of oil in other provinces in Sri Lanka. Orginality/Value: The study facilitates identifying the misconduct of consumers in using edible oil and thereby obtains the status of consumer awareness on proper usage practices of edible oil.