Food Market Research Articles

Shellfish Meat Safety on the Montenegro Coast

Exploitation of natural resources of the marine ecosystem to feed a growing human population has led to the possibility of their application in the future. In order to solve this problem, mariculture develops and the create adequate conditions for the breeding of marine organisms which are using in human nutrition and one of them are shellfish known as nutritionally valuable food. Microflora of marine organisms, and therefore shells largely depends on environmental factors such as time of the year, temperature of the sea water etc. This work was focused on growing shells on the Montenegrin coast, and a special emphasis was put on placing health-safe shells on the Montenegrin food market. In addition to meat shells, physical and chemical parameters of sea water were studied: water temperature, salinity, oxygen saturation, pH, transparency, nitrate concentration, Examination of these parameters is related to the period of one year. The own results of the microbiological examination of the samples of shellfish sampled in six production zones in April according to presence of Escherichia coli in the value of ˂18 MPN – (Most Probably Number) per 100 g of meat and intra-shell liquid, which means that shellfish in general at the Montenegrin coasts satisfy and meet microbiological criteria in view of the presence of Escherichia coli. When its own results compare with the results of the SVL (Specialist Veterinary Laboratory) for the same time in each zone, it can be determined that the results match, thus confirming the accuracy of the test results shown.

Biodiversity assessment and environmental risk analysis of the single line transgenic pod borer resistant cowpea.

The discussion surrounding biological diversity has reached a critical point with the introduction of Nigeria's first transgenic food crop, the pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea. Questions have been raised about the potential risks of the transgenic Maruca vitrata-resistant cowpea to human health and beneficial insects. Public apprehension, coupled with social activists' calling for the removal of this crop from the nation's food market, persists. However, there is a lack of data to counter the assertion that cultivating PBR cowpea may have adverse effects on biodiversity and the overall ecological system. This research, with its multifaceted objective of examining the environmental safety of PBR cowpea and assessing its impact on biodiversity compared to its non-transgenic counterpart, IT97KN, is of utmost importance in providing the necessary data to address these concerns. Seeds for both the transgenic PBR cowpea and its isoline were obtained from the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Zaria before planting at various farm sites (Addae et al., 2020). Throughout the experiment, local cultural practices were strictly followed to cultivate both transgenic and non-transgenic cowpeas. Elaborate taxonomic keys were used to identify arthropods and other non-targeted organisms. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to evaluate potential modifications in all ecological niches of the crops. The lmer function of the R package lme4 was used to analyze diversity indices, including Shannon, Pielou, and Simpson. The Bray-Curtis index was used to analyzed potential modifications in the dissimilarities of non-targeted organisms' communities. Examination of ecological species abundance per counting week (CW) revealed no disruption in the biological properties of non-targeted species due to the cultivation of transgenic PBR cowpea. Analysis of species evenness and diversity indices indicated no significant difference between the fields of transgenic PBR cowpea and its isoline. Principal component analysis results demonstrated that planting PBR cowpea did not create an imbalance in the distribution of ecological species. All species and families observed during this study were more abundant in transgenic PBR cowpea fields than in non-transgenic cowpea fields, suggesting that the transformation of cowpea does not negatively impact non-targeted organisms and their communities. Evolution dynamics of the species community between transgenic and non-transgenic cowpea fields showed a similar trend throughout the study period, with no significant divergence induced in the community structure because of PBR cowpea planting. This study concludes that planting transgenic PBR cowpea positively influences biodiversity and the environment.

The Shift Towards Plant-Based Lifestyles: Factors Driving Young Consumers’ Decisions to Choose Plant-Based Food Products

The shift in consumer dietary patterns from meat-based to plant-based food products has become a prominent trend worldwide. This shift is driven by various factors, including concerns about personal health and environmental awareness. Despite the global growth of the plant-based food industry, developing nations tend to be slow with adopting non-meat-based diets. This is mainly due to high levels of food insecurity and meat being the main source of protein, especially in countries like South Africa where food consumption is needs-based, and consumers are unaware of the environmental footprint of meat production. This paper is part of a two-phase study and reports on the quantitative results, which were obtained during the second phase. The main aim of this study was to investigate the factors that influence consumers’ decisions to choose plant-based food products. The factors that were selected were informed by the thematic results from phase 1, which involved focus groups that explored consumers’ opinions and behaviours towards plant-based lifestyles. By means of survey distribution, 426 online questionnaires were distributed among young consumers in South Africa. A conceptual model with six hypotheses was tested and the data were analysed using SmartPLS 4.1.0.8. The findings indicated the product taste and product knowledge are the most important factors that drive young consumers’ decisions to choose plant-based food products. The study further found that product quality, affordability, social influence, and product packaging play a role but to a lesser degree. Food marketers can utilise these findings and implement marketing strategies that can assist with persuading consumers to choose plant-based food products and adopt a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.

Stakeholder Perspectives on the School Food Environment: Insights from South African Learners-A Pilot Study.

Leveraging learner-driven insights to enhance the SFE can significantly influence food choices by decreasing the consumption of unhealthy foods and increasing access to healthier options. Using learners' voices as important stakeholders in the school food environment (SFE), this qualitative research study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of their perspectives, identify barriers and enablers to fostering a healthy SFE in South African public schools, and explore the link between the SFE and learners' food choices. Six focus group discussions (FGDs) with 4-6 participants were held in six schools, including three primary and three secondary schools in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education's iLembe district, SA, with learners aged 12-14 and 15-18 years, respectively. Learners were asked how schools could help them eat healthier and how their SFE benefitted them. The data were analysed using thematic data analysis methods. The FGDs generated 14 themes and subthemes. Emerging information suggests a lack of control over the sale of unhealthy food despite the existence of guidelines. This is further exacerbated by the marketing of unhealthy foods, which prevents learners from selecting healthier options. Furthermore, they stated that promoting the school food programme (SFP) and changing attitudes towards healthy food intake through comprehensive nutrition education are useful ways to enhance the SFE. The findings of this study underscore the critical role of learner insights in shaping effective strategies to improve the SFE.

The Participation of Street Food Sellers in Formulating the Policy of Revitalizing the Tegal’s Town Square Area as the Effort to Improve the Opened Green Zone

This research determined the participation of street food sellers in formulating and issuing the policy and determined the hindering factors of revitalization policy in the town square area of Tegal as the effort to improve the opened green zone. This descriptive qualitative research describes a variable in the form of spoken data from the informants and the observed behaviors of the informants. The researchers collected the data by interviewing the civil service police officers, the public work service and spatial planning, the cooperation of SME and trading, the housing and residential department, and the association of street food sellers; documenting; and studying the works of literature. The results found many regional government organizations participated in the formulation of revitalization policy. Then, they took the responsibility directly to the major of Tegal as the policy- maker of revitalizing the town square area of Tegal. The revitalization ran successfully. The government socialized the policy systematically and involved various actors including the street food sellers. However, from the eight socialization stage meetings for the street food sellers, only three socialization stages involved and coordinated with the street food sellers. The three meetings shared the divisions and relocation sites of the sellers, instruction, and empowerment. The revitalization of the green town square area also encountered some hindrances, such as limited socialization, lack of street seller confidence, and less representative relocated sites.

Spatial Price Transmission and Dynamic Volatility Spillovers in the Global Grain Markets: A TVP-VAR-Connectedness Approach.

The global food market's escalating volatility has led to a complex network of uncertainty and risk transmission across different grain markets. This study utilizes the Time-Varying Parameter Vector Autoregression (TVP-VAR)-Connectedness approach to analyze the price transmission and volatility dynamics of key grains, including wheat, maize, rice, barley, peanut, soybean, and soybean meal, and their dynamic spillover directions, intensity, and network. By integrating the TVP-VAR-Connectedness model, this research captures the time-varying variability and interconnected nature of global grain price movements. The main findings reveal significant spillover effects, particularly in corn prices, with prices of soybean dominating other grains while prices of peanut and corn experience higher external spillover effects from other grains. The conclusions drawn underscore the imperative for policymakers to consider a holistic perspective of all types of grains when addressing global food security, with this study providing valuable insights for risk management in the grain sector at both global level and country level.

The gamut of technology, social media and avatar in the organic food market

The gamut of technology, social media and avatar in the organic food market

Mothers insights on food marketing of sweet products for children

Mothers insights on food marketing of sweet products for children

Virtual Reality-Based Food and Beverage Marketing: Potential Implications for Young People of Color, Knowledge Gaps, and Future Research Directions.

Exposure to unhealthy food and beverage marketing is a major contributor to excessive weight gain among young people and it may disproportionately affect Black and Latinx communities. Appropriate and comprehensive regulations on food and beverage companies are essential, particularly as companies expand their reach and leverage the latest technologies to create marketing experiences using immersive virtual reality (VR). Although immersive VR technology is in its infancy, the potential effects of immersive VR food and beverage marketing on consumption, coupled with the history of racially targeted marketing by food and beverage corporations toward Black and Latinx communities, and the heightened burden of diet-related illnesses in Black and Latinx communities underscore a critical need to investigate immersive VR marketing targeting young people of color. This viewpoint will provide a brief description of VR food and beverage marketing as the newest food and beverage marketing frontier, highlight key concerns and knowledge gaps, and underscore future directions in research.

Profiling consumers for their shopping motivations in modern retail formats in Oman

PurposeConsumer shopping motivations are evolving in tandem with shifts in products, services and the retail landscape. This paper primarily aims to explore what drives shopping behavior among consumers in Oman. Additionally, the paper aims to profile consumers based on their shopping motivations.Design/methodology/approachBased upon the review of literature, we developed a list of 63 items of shopping motivations. Exploratory factor analysis later led to a 12-factor solution involving 50 items, which were refined further into an 11-factor solution involving 44 items using CFA. A combination of hierarchical and k-means cluster analysis was performed for profiling consumers.FindingsFive distinct segments of consumers that emerged in the Omani food and grocery retail market were derived as Practical Value Seekers, Discerning Shoppers, Selective Online Shoppers, Social Brand Seekers and Instant Gratifiers. Theoretical and managerial implications were discussed.Practical implicationsIn theory, this study examines market heterogeneity by considering customer shopping motivations and applies profiling (clustering) techniques to categorize them into distinct market clusters. In practical terms, it provides valuable insights to food and grocery store managers.Originality/valueThis study is novel and the first of its kind, suggesting a typology of food and grocery shoppers in Oman. Research on consumer shopping motivations has primarily focused on consumers in Western countries, particularly in the United States.

СУЧАСНІ СТРУКТУРНІ ЗМІНИ В АГРАРНОМУ СЕКТОРІ ТА ЇХ ВПЛИВ НА ПРОДОВОЛЬЧУ БЕЗПЕКУ КРАЇНИ

. In the article, the author examines the evolution of the role of food security, both at the historical stages of development and in the modern world, as well as its place in the system of ensuring economic and national security of the state. The strategic priority of agrarian policy in most countries was ensuring food security, which was understood primarily as self-sufficiency in food. This became especially relevant in the 50s of the XX century as a result of the fact that military actions violated previously imposed trade relations, and violations in this area arose under the influence of the payment crisis. The purpose of the article is an analysis of modern structural changes in the agricultural sector and their impact on the country's food security. The methodological basis of the research in the article is the scientific work of the authors in the field of economics of culture, innovation management, management in the field of culture, as well as social partnership. The research was carried out on the basis of general scientific methods of research - a systematic approach, analysis and synthesis, methods of typological and comparative analysis, empirical methods. The object of the study is the sphere of culture, which needs conditions in which organizational and financial reforms are carried out, as well as the development and application of innovative management methods. The hypothesis of the study. Currently, all developed countries of the world, including the United States, Japan, and the EU countries, have their own national programs, laws and measures to ensure national food security. Presentation of the main material. The primary tasks of the state in the sphere of regulation of agro-industrial production should be the stabilization and development of agro-industrial production, ensuring food security, improving food security of the population, maintaining economic parity between agriculture and other sectors of the economy, converging income levels of workers in agriculture and industry, protecting domestic producers in the sphere of agro-industrial production. From the point of view of welfare economics, "the problem of food safety and quality is one of the specific features of the functioning of the agricultural market, which determine its equilibrium in a Pareto inefficient state. This, in turn, is the economic basis for the need for state policy intervention in the agricultural sector and the possibility of redistributing the financial resources of society for its development. The originality and practical significance of the study. In our opinion, the existing problem of food security should be considered in the context of economic security, since it concentrates the main directions of agricultural policy and economic reforms in the current market conditions. This process reflects the real trends in the development of agricultural production, the state of the market and the position of consumers in it, determines the degree of involvement and dependence on the world food market, applies the mechanism of state strategy taking into account internal and external factors in order to create the main life support system – food security. Conclusions. Taking into account the interests of economic security and socio-political stability in society, it should be noted that the food and agricultural complexes always remain the most important sectors of the economy. The primary task is to create conditions for economic management and entrepreneurial stability in the agro-food sector of the economy and to ensure state support for producers

Factors influencing consumers' purchase behavior toward indigenous chicken: insights from a cognitive affect behavior model

PurposeThis study addresses a critical gap in understanding consumer behavior toward indigenous chicken, investigating the interaction between cognitive factors and purchase decisions. The current research offers a valuable contribution to the field of sustainable food marketing by shedding light on these dynamics.Design/methodology/approachThe research employed a quantitative survey method to gather data from consumers of indigenous chicken in Malaysia and analyzed it using structural equation modeling.FindingsHealth and price consciousness, along with effort expectancy, significantly influence consumer attitudes toward indigenous chicken. However, environmental consciousness and availability do not directly impact attitude. Similarly, attitude mediates the relationship between health consciousness, price consciousness, effort expectancy and purchase behavior, while attitude does not mediate the relationship between environmental consciousness, availability and purchase behavior of indigenous chicken.Originality/valueThis study is one of the pioneering works to apply the cognitive affect behavior (CAB) model to examine the factors influencing consumer attitudes and purchase behavior toward indigenous chicken. It investigates how constructs such as health consciousness, environmental consciousness, price consciousness, effort expectancy and availability affect these attitudes and behaviors, offering novel insights into the purchase intentions of younger and educated individuals.

Тенденции развития потребительских предпочтений на рынке мяса и мясных продуктов

The article examines the trends in the development of consumer preferences for meat and meat products. During the analysis of the structure of the food market, consumer surveys and research on production technology and consumption statistics, the main patterns of changing preferences of domestic consumers were identified. The data on the dynamics, structure, volumes of production and consumption of meat and meat products are presented. The data on the volumes of meat and meat products consumption recommended by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and their actual consumption are presented. Statistical data illustrating the dynamics of the volume of state support for agricultural producers are presented.

ҚАЗАҚСТАНДАҒЫ КӨТЕРМЕ САУДА НАРЫҒЫНЫҢ ИНФРАҚҰРЫЛЫМЫ: ЖАҒДАЙЫ МЕН ДАМУ БАҒЫТТАРЫ

This article analyzes the key components of the infrastructure of the food wholesale trade market in Kazakhstan. The authors provide a comprehensive review of retail trade formats in a regional context and assess the level of provision of trading platforms for the population. The study examines the structure of legal entities in trade, employment in regions, service preparation centers, wholesale trade centers, retail areas of large facilities, markets in rural areas, and the technical equipment ofspecialized markets.Additionally, the operation ofcommodity exchanges and the issues of purchasing products for stabilization funds are also explored. The state continues to play a key role in the food market, and the authors note that the Government of Kazakhstan is actively working on the development of digital infrastructure in food trade. The analysis identifies several issues that require state intervention, as well as the need to improve logistics and intermediary services. The authors emphasize the importance of introducing modern technologies alongside the development of commodity exchanges and mobile trade.

Changing Our Food Habits One Bite at a Time: Exploring Young Flexitarians in a Country with a High Meat Intake.

Flexitarian diets have gained attention for their potential positive impact on human health and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. However, a critical question remains: Can the segment of flexitarians significantly contribute to necessary changes in our current unsustainable food systems? Our study addresses this gap by examining meat consumption habits among young adults (n = 1023) in a country with traditionally high meat intake. Furthermore, we focus on a subset of flexitarians (n = 286). Our findings reveal two distinct groups of flexitarians: ethical (n1 = 140) and utilitarian (n2 = 148). Utilitarian flexitarians exhibit a stronger preference for meat (t(284)= -15.180, p < 0.001), greater food neophobia (t(284) = -4.785, p < 0.001), and lower environmental awareness (t(284) = 7.486, p < 0.001) compared to Ethical flexitarians. The Ethical group, predominantly female (χ2(1) = 13.366, p < 0.001), demonstrates higher life satisfaction (t(284) = 5.485, p < 0.001), better health perceptions (t(284) = 5.127, p < 0.001), and stronger beliefs in reducing meat consumption (t(284) = -8.968, p < 0.001). Additionally, Ethical flexitarians hold more positive views on plant-based meat, perceiving it as healthier (t(284) = 4.326, p < 0.001) and more ethical (t(284) = 4.942, p < 0.001), and show a greater willingness to adopt it (t(284) = 7.623, p < 0.001). While both groups possess similar knowledge and willingness regarding cultured meat and insects, Ethical flexitarians view cultured meat more favourably (t(250.976) = 2.964, p = 0.003). Our study provides insights into the evolving trends of flexitarianism within Central and Eastern European countries, where research on meat consumption and flexitarianism is scarce. These insights hold value for promoting behaviour change toward reduced meat consumption for both health and environmental reasons. Additionally, they offer guidance to the food industry, including producers, sellers, and providers of meals in educational and employment facilities.

Hemp for health: a historical perspective on the marketing of cannabis-based foods in Sweden

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide the first comprehensive examination of the early cannabis-based food products industry, using Sweden as a case study. Drawing upon historical newspaper articles and advertisements from the Swedish Historical Newspaper Archive, the authors trace the short-lived development of the industry, from the initial exploitation of fears of tuberculosis in the late 19th century, followed by the “boom” in hempseed extract products and the widening of its claimed effects and, finally, increased skepticism and critiques of such products across the popular press in the early 20th century. Design/methodology/approach A rigorous search of the Swedish Historical Newspaper Archive was conducted to gather newspaper articles and advertisements on cannabis-based foods. The collected resources were scrutinized using critical discourse analysis to tease out key discourses at work, particularly around the concepts of health, nutrition and science. Findings The authors find that central to the marketization of cannabis-based foods was the construction of disease based on scientific and medical discourse, fearmongering to create a strong consumer base and individualization to place responsibility on consumers to take action to protect their family’s health. This demonstrates not only the long historical relationship between science and food marketing but also how brands’ health claims could often be fraudulent or overstated. Originality/value It is important to cast a historical lens on the commercialization of cannabis-based food products because demand for similar types of products has rapidly grown over the past decade. Now, just as before, manufacturers tap into consumers’ insecurities about health, and many of the same questions continue to be mooted about products’ safety. Paying greater attention to the broader and problematic history of commercial cannabis can, thus, serve as a reminder for both consumers and policymakers to think twice about whether hemp really is for health and if the claims it espouses are a mirage rather than a miracle.

Navigating the online food environment: policy pathways for promoting food access, transparency, and healthy food choices online.

The internet is drastically changing how U.S. consumers shop for groceries, order food from restaurants, and interact with food marketing. There is an urgent need for new policies to help ensure that the internet is a force for good when it comes to food access, transparency, and nutrition. This article outlines actions that federal agencies-like the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Federal Trade Commission (FTC)-and state and local governments can take to improve the online food environment. We recommend policies in three settings: online grocery retail, online restaurant ordering, and marketing on social media and other online platforms. For example, USDA could finalize regulations increasing access to online WIC and remove barriers to accessing online SNAP by requiring large retailers to waive online delivery and service fees for SNAP purchases. FDA could improve access to nutrition information by issuing guidance describing what product information should be available at the online point of selection. FTC could give better guidance on appropriate tactics when marketing to children and collect better data on how companies are marketing food to children online. Finally, state governments could pass laws like New York's recently introduced Predatory Marketing Prevention Act to address false and misleading advertising of unhealthy foods aimed at children and other vulnerable groups.

Consumers’ willingness to pay for alternative protein food products: taste preference, health, and environmental concerns

ABSTRACT This study investigates consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for traditional animal meat, plant-based meat, and cell-cultured meat products, specifically focusing on beef, chicken, and pork categories. The experiment involves presenting participants with various meat options, along with the presence or absence of carbon footprint or low-salt labels. The findings reveal that consumers exhibit a lower WTP for plant-based and cell-cultured meat compared to traditional animal meat across all three categories (beef, chicken, and pork). Moreover, both carbon footprint and low-salt labels significantly increase consumers’ WTP. The choices made by consumers are influenced by attribute preferences and product-related concerns. Specifically, taste preference significantly impacts consumers’ preference for animal meat over cell-cultured meat in the beef, chicken, and pork categories; however, this effect is not significant for plant-based meat. Consumers who prioritize health concerns tend to choose plant-based beef and chicken over traditional options. Environmental concerns play a crucial role in pork choices, leading to a decrease in the selection of animal pork and an increase in the preference for cell-cultured pork. These findings offer valuable insights for industry stakeholders seeking to advance protein biotechnology and drive innovation in the food market.

Assessment of foods for infants and toddlers in Australia against the World Health Organization's Nutrient and Promotion Profile Model for food products for infants and young children.

Global public health agencies have recommended stronger regulation of food marketing to protect children's diets. This study assessed commercial foods for infants and toddlers available in Australian supermarkets for compliance with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe's Nutrient and Promotion Profile Model: supporting appropriate promotion of food products for infants and young children 6-36 months in the WHO European Region (NPPM). Dietitians assessed a sample of commercial foods for infants and toddlers against the composition, labelling and promotion requirements of the NPPM. Australia. Commercial foods for infants and toddlers (n 45) available in two major Australian supermarkets, purposely sampled across product categories and brands. Fewer than one quarter (23 %) of the assessed products met all nutrient content requirements of the NPPM. No products met all of the labelling or promotional requirements. All products included at least one promotional marketing claim that was not permitted under the NPPM. The NPPM is useful to assess and monitor the nutritional composition and prevalence of marketing claims on commercial foods for infants and toddlers. Findings of noncompliance with the NPPM recommendations indicate an urgent need for stronger government regulation of the composition, labelling and marketing of commercial foods for infants and toddlers in Australia.

How Blockchain-Enabled Drivers Stimulate Consumers’ Organic Food Purchase Intention: An Integrated Framework of Information Systems Success Model Within Stimulus-Organism-Response Theory in the Context of Vietnam

Integrating the Information System Success (ISS) model with the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) paradigm, this study aims to explore how blockchain-enabled stimuli (blockchain-enabled traceability and blockchain-enabled transparency) affect ISS-related organisms (perceived information quality and perceived system quality), which individually, congruently, and incongruently trigger consumers’ behavioral responses (organic food purchase intentions). Using a purposive sampling of 5326 Vietnamese consumers, multiple linear regression and polynomial regression with response surface analysis are employed to examine the hypothesized model. The research indicates that both blockchain-enabled traceability and blockchain-enabled transparency significantly and positively affect perceived information quality and perceived system quality, which both significantly mediate the impacts of blockchain-enabled traceability and blockchain-enabled transparency on organic food purchase intention. The research also finds that higher congruence between perceived information quality and perceived system quality leads to increased organic food purchase intention, while greater disparity between perceived information quality and perceived system quality results in lower organic food purchase intention. This study contributes to the extant literature by integrating the ISS model with the SOR model to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding how blockchain technology affects consumer behavior in the organic food market. It also highlights the crucial role of both information and system quality in leveraging blockchain technology to enhance consumer trust and purchase intentions.