Consumer acceptance of the use of plant and animal by-products of food manufacturing for human nutrition

Abstract

The food industry is generating considerable quantities of either animal- or plant-based by-products during food-production worldwide. While many of the by-products are suitable for human nutrition or the production of by-product-based foods, an essential prerequisite for their successful market establishment is consumer acceptance. In this light, a consumer survey was conducted in order to assess their general acceptance of both plant and animal by-products used for human nutrition. A total of 614 German consumers were surveyed by means of an online questionnaire. Using the statistical evaluation method of cluster analysis, four consumer segments could be identified that are characterized by specific patterns of acceptance of the use of plant and animal by-products for human nutrition: 1.) consumers with generally low acceptance of by-product use (5.9%), 2.) consumers with generally medium acceptance of by-product use (34.3%), 3.) consumers with acceptance of plant by-product use (15.3%), and 4.) consumers with generally high acceptance of by-product use (44.5%). The findings are relevant for the food industry, as well as consumer research and politics.