Food Safety Risk Perception Research Articles

Factors that influence the behavioral intention of customers toward online food delivery service

Many studies focus on components that influence consumers' behavioral intent to acquire an online food delivery service rather than those responsible for determining consumers' online behavioral intent to purchase service providers. Therefore, this study aims to identify such factors and assess the impact on the behavioral intention toward OFDs according to the consumer's point of view. Findings are supported by the explanatory approach and the quantitative research technique and were collected via a questionnaire accessible through a Google Form. Costumers living in Tallinn, Estonia, were polled using a non-probability sample approach, and 137 responses were received. Trust demonstrates the highest impact of 30.8% on the intention of using OFD service by customers, followed by time-saving benefits (21.0%), perceived ease of use (15.2%), and perceived usefulness (14.5%). Price-saving benefits and food safety risk perception are insignificant statistically, and the study assumptions are rejected. The study suggested that customers' intentions to use Online food delivery services must be tailored to their preferences and perceptions of the product's intrinsic and extrinsic worth and quality. Service providers must become more alert and efficient to keep everything safe and confidential. A secure system for sharing information should be implemented if at all practicable.

Vicarious vs experiential information in the consumer’s construal level on imported food safety risk perception

Consumers acquire information about the imported food safety risks through distal channels such as the Internet versus proximal channels such as direct experience, and these channels influence the consumer perception of safety. However, the empirical analysis of the sources of information (distal–proximal) channels is second to none. This article explores whether direct experience with imported food induces different levels of safety risks compared to distal information through social media. Based on the Construal Level Theory (CLT), the study examines consumer responses in a survey involving 500 respondents out of 1000 distributed in South Korea, using high-level construal (vicarious information) versus a low-level construal (direct experience) framework to assess food safety risk perception. We narrowed the imported food from China to South Korea to obtain a robust analysis. Our analysis shows that vicarious (distal) sources of information increase perceived food safety risks in the minds of the consumer, while direct experience (proximity) decreases food safety risks. In a supplementary analysis, those respondents who had visited China exhibited lower levels of food safety risk of the imported food. We infer that the lower-level construal (experience) mediates the effects of higher-level construal (indirect, social media) on the imported food safety risk. However, the correlation is nonlinear, explaining why some studies find proximity while others find distance in correlation with the food safety risk. In a contribution to the literature, this study answers a longstanding question regarding international business in food supplies, supports the CLT framework, and offers a policy recommendation for both Korea and China to enhance their information channels to counteract misinformation.

Food Safety Risk and Visual Attention: The Moderating Effect of Prototype Perception and Social Distance

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between food safety risk perception (FSRP) and social similarity, utilizing eye-tracking to uncover how consumers process information on food labels. Central to our inquiry is that perceived similarity influences how individuals assess and react to food safety risks. Our research posits that individuals who see a high degree of similarity with others in their social circles are more attentive to food safety risks. We conducted two food label experiments, one focusing on safety labels and the other on nutritional information. Findings indicate that heightened perceptions of social similarity (prototype perception and social distance) enhance the impact of food labels (safety labels and nutritional information) on food safety risk assessments (decision-making process and product choice), manifesting in increased visual attention to these labels. This revelation underscores the significance of social factors in shaping food safety behaviors and offers a new perspective for designing more effective food safety communication. Our work contributes to the academic discourse on food safety and social psychology and provides practical insights for public health messaging strategies.

Why Bangkokians use online food delivery services after COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted

PurposeThe growth of the internet has transformed digital infrastructure in Thailand over the past two decades, with the widespread use of e-commerce, digital money and online services becoming a daily norm for all ages. The COVID-19 restrictions, which limited in-person business operations, boosted demand for takeout and delivery services and fueled the expected steady growth of the online food delivery market in Thailand. The pandemic also resulted in a shift towards online ordering and delivery, reflecting changes in customer behavior. This study focuses on exploring the factors that have driven Bangkokians to use online food delivery services after the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in June 2022.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 398 participants who had ordered food delivery services after the announcement.FindingsThe findings showed that perceived usefulness, time saving benefit and price saving benefit have a significant impact on the intention of customers to use online food delivery services, while food safety risk perception had no effect.Practical implicationsBangkokians favor online food delivery services due to convenience and time-saving, indicating high demand post-pandemic. Businesses should invest in improving their platforms to meet evolving consumer behavior.Originality/valueThe result of this study offers valuable insights into the attitudes and behaviors of Bangkokians towards online food delivery services and could be beneficial for businesses in the industry to improve their services, enhance customer satisfaction as well as increase their competitiveness.

U.S. Consumers' Tree Nut Food Safety Knowledge, Perceptions, and Handling Practices across Demographic Groups.

Tree nuts are often perceived as presenting a low risk for foodborne illness, despite their association with several foodborne outbreaks and recalls in recent years. An online survey was designed to assess how consumers' food safety knowledge, perception of risks and benefits, and preferred sources for food safety information influence their tree nut handling behavior. Participants (n = 981) who soaked tree nuts or prepared nut-based dairy analogs (NBDAs) at home completed the survey. Their responses indicated insufficient knowledge about potential contaminations of tree nuts. Only 25% of participants had heard of a tree nut-related outbreak or recall. Few (30%) participants perceived a risk of contracting a foodborne illness from tree nuts. The participants were more concerned with the health benefits than potential microbial risks of raw tree nuts and preferred government agencies for tree nut food safety information. Based on a cluster analysis, demographics with lower food safety knowledge and risk perceptions (ages 18-24 or 45 and above, female, suburban and rural communities, have less than a bachelor's degree, and earned less than USD 100,000 annually) tended to engage in risky tree nut handling practices (p < 0.05). The findings of this study support the development of audience-targeted food safety extension materials for tree nuts.

FACTORS DRIVING GENERATION Z'S USE OF ONLINE FOOD DELIVERY SERVICE AT THE END OF PANDEMIC

Food delivery industry has undergone a significant transformation with the rise of online platforms, appealing to tech-savvy Generation Z. Generation Z was chosen as they are considered the market of the future. This study examines the factors influencing Generation Z's use of online food delivery in Tangerang, during the post-COVID-19 period. Data from 150 Generation Z respondents who used online food delivery services in the past three months were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25. The study found that perceived usefulness, trust, and time-saving benefits strongly influence Generation Z's intention to use online food delivery. They highly value the practicality, reliability, and efficiency of these platforms. Transparent communication and reliable delivery services are crucial for retaining Generation Z consumers, while highlighting the time-saving advantages is essential to meet their preferences. Surprisingly, factors like ease of use, food safety risk perception, COVID-19 severity, vulnerability, and price-saving benefits had insignificant influence. Understanding these preferences can help service providers, policymakers, and marketers enhance satisfaction and tailor their offerings to meet the needs of Generation Z in the competitive post-pandemic market. Further research is needed to uncover the specific drivers influencing Generation Z's adoption of online food delivery services.

Consumer Insight During Covid-19: Understanding the Influence of Price Saving Benefits, Time Saving Benefits, and Food Safety Risk Perception To Consumer Intention On Online Food Delivery

Abstract. Technology has a significant impact on human existence, particularly in the phenomenon of online food delivery services. Every year, this makes online food shopping more appealing to the public. The study's goal is to compare consumers' willingness to use online meal delivery services during the Covid-19 pandemic to the new normal. The research methodology employed in the study was multivariate Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Price savings benefits, time savings benefits, and food safety risk perceptions are all considered crucial and relevant in influencing customer intentions. The relevant data was acquired from online meal delivery customers by 299 data during the survey stage. A Google form was used to conduct the survey online. The Partial Least Square SEM approach will be utilized for the data analysis calculation stage. The findings of this investigation reveal three established hypothetical links. Data analysis revealed that Food Safety Risk Perception has a negative and significant impact on customer intentions. Customers' intentions are positively influenced by the Price Saving Benefit and the Time Saving Benefit is revealed to be the highest beta value. This study also discusses theoretical and practical contributions. Keywords: Online food delivery, price saving benefits, time saving benefits, food safety risk perceptions, consumer intention

Food safety risk perceptions and mitigation techniques in the dumpster diving community in Sweden

An online questionnaire was used to investigate behaviors and habits relating to food retrieval by Swedish dumpster divers. Respondents were also asked to share information on their background, reasons for engaging in dumpster diving, and perceptions of potential bacterial hazards associated with the consumption of discarded foods. The questionnaire was mainly distributed to Swedish social media groups focusing on dumpster diving, and a total of 92 responses were received. The most common reason given for engaging in dumpster diving was to reduce food waste and associated negative environmental impacts (60%, n = 55). Many of the respondents (65%) had completed university education, and around three-quarters (73%) had some form of employment or were enrolled in studies. Half the respondents (52%, n = 48) perceived a risk of falling ill after consuming food obtained through dumpster diving, but very few (2%) reported they had been made ill by food they had picked up from dumpsters. Around one-fifth (22%) of the respondents did not know of any bacteria that could cause foodborne infections or food poisoning. Salmonella was mentioned by 35% of the respondents, while Listeria was mentioned by 18%. The respondents reported employing various techniques to reduce the risk of encountering harmful microbiological agents, for example, rinsing their food retrievals or discarding food that appeared spoiled. These are novel findings on dumpster divers’ perceptions of perceived health risks and the strategies they use to mitigate such risks with food obtained through dumpster diving.

Determinants of customer purchase intention toward online food delivery services: The moderating role of usage frequency

In this study, the determinants (i.e., social influence, effort expectancy, performance expectancy, trust, and food safety risk perception) affecting customers' purchase intention toward online food delivery services are explored based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. The moderating effect of usage frequency between determinants and purchase intention is also examined to improve the understanding of the decision-making processes of frequent and non-frequent customers. Up to 392 responses are collected, and the results of this study indicate that performance expectancy, trust, and social influence positively affect customers' purchase intention toward online food delivery services. Positive relationships between determinants – social influence and performance expectancy, effort expectancy and performance expectancy – and the significant role of trust in effort expectancy and food safety risk perception are also identified. Furthermore, usage frequency significantly moderates the relationships between the determinants and purchase intention. Based on the findings, theoretical contributions and managerial implications for online food delivery service providers and restaurants are provided.

Consumer attitudes toward ordering from cloud kitchens: a gender and marital status perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine consumer’s perceptions of cloud kitchens, including the influence of perceived innovativeness (PI), utility motivations (price and food varieties), and food safety risk perceptions (FSRP) on trust; the impact of hedonic motivations and trust on attitude; and the moderating effect of FSRP on the relationship between utility motivations (food varieties) and trust. The relationships were examined with respect to gender and marital status.Design/methodology/approachThe Theory of Consumption Value served as the theoretical underpinning of this study. Data was collected with an online survey (n = 316) using the Qualtrics panel. The partial least squares–structural equation modeling method was used to analyze the survey data.FindingsPI, utilitarian motivations (price) and hedonic motivations (food varieties) positively influenced trust, whereas trust positively influenced attitude. FSRP negatively impacted trust and moderated the relationship between utility motivations (food varieties) and trust. Hedonic motivations positively influenced consumers’ attitudes. Multi-group analyses highlighted the differences attributed to gender and marital status.Research limitations/implicationsPI and utility motivations influenced trust, supporting the notion that consumers are open to new and convenient ways to order food. Additionally, the negative influence of FSRP on trust and its moderating role on the path between food varieties and trust highlights the importance of FSRP on food consumption. Finally, this study provided insight into the influence of gender and marital status on perceptions of ordering from cloud kitchens.Originality/valueThe cloud kitchen business model is undergoing exponential growth, and this study provides an understanding of cloud kitchens from a consumer’s perspective.

Effect of social media use on food safety risk perception through risk characteristics: Exploring a moderated mediation model among people with different levels of science literacy.

Food safety risk (FSR) is becoming a vital issue for public health, and improving public awareness of FSR through social media is necessary. This study aims to explore specific mechanisms of FSR perception; it first categorizes 19 risk characteristics into two variables, dread and efficacy, and then examines how social media use affects perceived FSR through both variables. Additionally, the study explores the moderating effects of source credibility and science literacy on the mechanisms of FSR perception. Based on a nationwide online survey (N = 2,015) of more than six salient food safety issues in China, the study found that exposure to food safety risk information on social media can help improve perceived FSR based on the proposed “dread–efficacy processing model” (DEPM), where dread stimulates perceived risk, while efficacy suppresses risk perception. Moreover, source credibility intensifies the effect of social media use on efficacy appraisal, whereas science literacy exerts a “double-weakening” influence on dread appraisal. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Food safety knowledge and risk perception among pregnant women: A cross-sectional study in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundPregnant women are at a higher risk of food poisoning compared to the general population. This can be detrimental to both the mother and the fetus. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and risk perception of basic food safety and handling among pregnant women in Jordan amid the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study among pregnant women in Jordan was conducted using an online questionnaire between November 2020 and January 2021. The survey included socio-demographic data, food safety knowledge, and risk perception questions as well as COVID-19 related questions. A total score for food safety awareness out of 50 was derived for each participant based on the sum of scores from all domains. Student t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were conducted using SPSS (Version 26) to compare the mean sum of correct responses of every section (knowledge score) by sociodemographic characteristics.ResultsA total of 325 participants completed the web-based survey. Most of the participants reported receiving food safety-related information during pregnancy (64.9%). The mean total score for the participants was 23.3 ± 4.6 out of 50 (score percentage 46.6%). Participants were mostly aware of foodborne diseases (82.7%) followed by cleaning and sanitation (51.2%), and personal hygiene (49.1%). The least amount of awareness was observed in the cross-contamination (35.0%), food consumption and safety (35.0%), and temperature control (32.8%) domains. Older participants and those with higher education had significantly higher mean scores (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Most participants agreed that the pandemic had a positive impact on enhancing the measures taken to maintain food safety during the pandemic.ConclusionsThis study identified gaps in food safety-related knowledge. Educational programs for pregnant women need robust reinforcement within the community. Efficient educational approaches related to food safety should be provided by health care providers and local health authorities. While the COVID-19 pandemic persists, pregnant women must be well-educated about the virus and its prevention strategies to avoid being infected and ensure their baby's safety as well as their own.

The unintended effects of tamper-evident food closures

Restaurant-to-consumer food delivery has experienced disruption with the growth of third-party services such as DoorDash and Uber Eats. However, this platform-to-consumer delivery method introduces increased opportunities for food tampering and contamination due to additional touchpoints in the delivery process. To mitigate these concerns, more restaurants are implementing tamper-evident closures such as seals attached to the food containers used for delivery items. Drawing on signaling theory, we examine the effect of tamper-evident closures in the third-party delivery context through two experimental studies and a focus group. Our results revealed a negative effect of tamper-evident seals on willingness to pay through lowered food quality evaluations, suggesting the seal sends contamination signals rather than the intended message of food safety. This negative effect appears robust for both food and beverages. We also demonstrate that consumers’ food safety risk perception (FSRP) acts as a boundary condition, attenuating the negative indirect effect for high-FSRP consumers.

Factors Affecting Customer's Behavioral Intention to Use Online Food Delivery Services (OFDS)

This study is conducted to investigate the factors determining the behavioral intention of using online food delivery services (OFDS) after the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia (perceived ease of use, price value, performance expectancy, and food safety risk perception). This study aims to determine the future intent to use online food delivery services after the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. A total of 450 people involved during the online survey via the Google Form platform. Descriptive analysis and Pearson correlation analysis are used in this study. For the research findings, this study concludes that the perceived ease of use, price value, performance expectancy, and food safety risk perception have a significant relationship towards behavioral intention to use OFDS. All the result findings are being shown in this report.

Consumers' Knowledge and Handling Practices Associated with Fresh-Cut Produce in the United States.

Previous studies have shown that three factors influence fresh-cut produce safety from farm to fork: (1) post-harvest practices in processing facilities, (2) employees’ handling practices in retail facilities, and (3) consumers’ handling practices in domestic kitchens or cooking facilities. However, few studies have examined consumers’ food safety knowledge, risk perceptions, and their handling practices associated with fresh-cut produce. To fill this gap, the present study conducted a nationwide survey to assess U.S. consumers’ food safety knowledge, practices, and risk perception associated with fresh-cut produce among various demographic groups and investigated factors influencing consumers’ food safety practices related to fresh-cut produce. The results showed that consumers lack the knowledge and safe handling practices toward fresh-cut produce regarding storage hierarchy, surface cleaning and sanitizing, and time and temperature control of fresh-cut produce. The men and millennial consumers exhibit a lower level of safe fresh-cut produce handling practices. In addition, a significant interaction was observed between food safety knowledge and risk perceptions on consumers’ fresh-cut produce handling practices, such that food safety knowledge can transfer to practice more effectively for consumers with high levels of risk perception. The results can be utilized to design effective consumer food safety education tools for targeted audiences.

Explore Chinese consumers' safety perception of agricultural products using a non-price choice experiment

Consumers' food safety perception is a key driver of their food buying decision. However, little is known about how consumers judge the food safety of agricultural products with a variety of extrinsic indicators in the market. Different from previous studies that directly ask about consumers' overall food safety perception, we designed a non-price choice experiment of general agricultural products to examine the impact of extrinsic indicators on consumers' food safety perception. The design without price attributes and takes agricultural products as a whole can overcome preference reversal caused by prices and provide policymakers with important information to establish effective food safety communication programs. With online survey data (n = 1281), results indicate that factors influencing consumers' food safety perception include Green Food certification (54%), purchase venue (42%), and brand (4%). These results imply that brand has a relatively weak linkage with food safety and is not an effective indicator for food safety. Besides, using seemingly unrelated regression, we found that high food safety risk perception may not necessarily lead to the use of food safety indicators. However, the trust in Green Food certification does matter, suggesting trust is the foundation of food safety communication. This study provides deep insight into consumers' formulation of food safety perception, which is essential to improving food safety communication.

Understanding how food safety risk perception influences dietary decision making among women in Phenom Phnom Penh, Cambodia: a qualitative study

ObjectivesTo determine women’s perception of the risk of food safety and how it relates to diet, health and decision making as part of formative research for a market-based intervention that...

Knowledge, Practices, and Risk Perception Associated with Foodborne Illnesses among Females Living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Foodborne illnesses are a widespread and growing public health concern worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, practices, and risk perception pertaining to food safety among females living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was undertaken consisting of 827 female participants between January to April 2020. The study showed that the overall food safety risk perception was below satisfactory (53.3%). The highest score was seen in the “recognition of foodborne illnesses” aspect (76.7%). The participants were aware of “personal hygiene and cleaning” (61.7%), “cross-contamination prevention” (62.5%), “food purchasing” (60.0%), and “storage of frozen foods” (55.6%). The participants had a low level of knowledge pertaining to “food cooking” (26.0%) and “risk of microbiological infection” (13.3%). There was a statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) association between knowledge and practices of respondents with employment status, age, and educational levels. In conclusion, the female respondents might act as vehicles for the spread of foodborne illnesses. To reduce this risk, providing food safety awareness programs to this portion of the population is paramount.

Consumer risk perception and trusted sources of food safety information during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Risk perceptions and trusted sources of information may have influenced consumer food handling practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used a mixed-method qualitative-quantitative approach to assess consumer risk perception and trusted sources of food safety information during the pandemic. From April to August of 2020, five waves of online surveys (N=3,584, with a minimum of 700 per month) were distributed to a U.S. consumer panel, which included only primary food preparers and grocery shoppers. The online focus groups recruited participants (N=43) from the first wave of survey respondents and were conducted via Webex from May to July 2020. Topics covered in both studies focused on food safety risk perceptions and trusted sources of information during the pandemic. Trusted sources of information included government agencies, healthcare professionals, scientists, and social media. Throughout the longitudinal study, survey respondents and focus group participants perceived a higher risk of getting COVID-19 from people than from food. Survey respondents believed that handwashing could protect them more from COVID-19 than from foodborne illnesses. Many focus group participants practiced handwashing to prevent them from contracting COVID-19 from food items. Both survey respondents and focus group participants trusted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and healthcare professionals for COVID-19 and food safety information. Focus group participants trusted these entities because they provide information that is "scientifically proven." Survey data for all five months reported social media to be the least-trusted source of both COVID-19 and food safety information. Focus group participants agreed that social media has "misinformation." The findings suggest that increased risk perception may have caused consumers to adopt good hand hygiene. However, consumers may not be connecting such practices to food safety. Food safety educators can use this time of heightened risk perception to connect COVID-19 and food safety practices. Trusted entities of information also need to be aware of their impact on consumer behavior and provide consumers with proper food safety information.

Unpacking the myth between increased government initiatives and reduced selling of dead live stocks in China: An approach towards exploring hidden danger of zoonotic diseases

Prohibiting the unsafe sale of livestock that have died in production and harmlessly disposing of them are key measures to control and prevent outbreaks of zoonotic diseases and exert a great significance for maintaining meat-derived food and public health safety. However, under the strict implementation of governmental initiatives, some farmers still choose to sell dead livestock unsafely in developing countries such as China, Brazil, Mexico, and Kenya, which have become an important hidden danger in preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases. Based on data from 496 pig farmers in Hebei, Henan, and Hubei, China, the Double Hurdle Model was employed to explore the impact of governmental initiatives on the willingness and proportion of dead pigs sold unsafely by farmers. Besides, based on the heterogeneity of organization participation and breeding scale, the impact of governmental initiatives on different scale farmers' unsafely selling behaviors is also discussed. The results showed that the harmless disposal subsidy significantly reduces farmers' willingness to unsafely sell dead pigs (SW, RC = −0.0666, and SE = 0.0261). Still, the impact on the proportion is weak (SP, RC = −0.0502, and SE = 0.0474). Though the effect of supervision punishment is greatly weakened (SW, RC =−0.0381, and SE = 0.0324; SP, RC = −0.0204 and SE = 0.0263), it can significantly enhance the effect of harmless disposal subsidy by creating a good law-abiding environment (SW, RC = −0.1370, and SE = 0.0374; SP, RC = −0.0820, and SE = 0.0431). Governmental initiatives have an undue impact on the unsafe sale of dead livestock by farmers participating in cooperatives. The effects of these measures on different scale farmers' unsafe sale of dead pigs are highly heterogeneous. In addition, the study also found that food and public health safety risk perceptions are important endogenous drivers for curbing farmers selling dead pigs. This research can also provide important inspiration for other countries. The government should raise farmers' risk perception level of food and public safety, optimize governmental initiatives, play the key role of cooperative organization, increase the proportion of dead pigs harmlessly disposed of, and finally eliminate new hidden dangers in the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases.