Consumer Attitude towards Preserved Food in Rural and Urban Areas of Fayoum, Egypt

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

As the food preservation industry is considered one of the most important food industries in Egypt with relative importance equal to 21.27% of the total cumulative number of establishments and relative importance of 20.37% of the total value of industrial production. It’s essential to understand the consumption patterns for each preserved food category and each population category. This article aims at identifying the consumption patterns of preserved food in the rural and urban areas of Fayoum Governorate and what are the consumers’ attitudes towards it. A survey was designed and data collected by one-on-one interviews with a sample of 200 households, 100 from each area. Data tabulated and analyzed using simple statistical approaches. It’s found that the majority of consumers allocates 15%-30% of their incomes to purchased preserved food. Households including working-women are buying more preserved food. In urban areas, consumers tend to buy more canned and frozen food than those in rural areas. It’s also found that preserved meat, chicken and fish are demanded less than other canned and frozen food. The great majority of consumers in both areas tend to shape their preferences based on taste as a first priority. Other preferences such as packaging and labeling for each food group vary between rural and urban areas.