Percentage Of Consumers Research Articles

Consumer visual preference and value for beef steaks differing in marbling level and color1

To determine visual preference and value for fresh beef steaks differing in marbling level and color, consumers in Chicago and San Francisco (n = 124 per city) evaluated two pairs of steaks in a retail case. Steaks differing in marbling level (Modest/Moderate vs. Slight) and color (bright, cherry-red vs. dark red) were purchased at retail stores in each city. Consumers selected their preferred steak in each pair, described their selection criteria, and provided the price they were willing to pay for each of the four steaks. There was a difference in visual preference in each city, with most consumers preferring (P < 0.01) low (Slight) over high (Moderate/Modest) marbling; however, more (P < 0.01) consumers in Chicago (86.7%) preferred low marbling than in San Francisco (67.0%). Selection criteria were categorized into five groups: marbling, fat, color, appearance, and palatability. Marbling was mentioned by 65.4% of consumers who preferred high marbling, whereas 64.9% of consumers who preferred low marbling mentioned fat as a selection criterion. Bright, cherry-red color was preferred by a higher (P < 0.01) percentage of consumers in both Chicago and San Francisco (67.6 and 76.5%, respectively). Color was mentioned both by consumers who preferred bright, cherry-red color (64.8%) and those who preferred dark red color (63.9%). All preference groups were willing to pay more for their preferred steak (P < 0.01), but consumers who preferred low marbling were willing to pay more (P < 0.01) for their preferred steak than consumers who preferred high marbling. Consumers who preferred bright, cherry-red color were willing to pay more (P < 0.01) for their preferred steak than consumers who preferred dark red color. Consumers who preferred low marbling seemed to desire lean products, and consumers who preferred high marbling seemed to desire products with high eating quality. In this study, consumers were willing to pay more to purchase their preferred product; however, most consumers preferred low marbling and bright, cherry-red color.

Estimating a “consumer rejection threshold” for cork taint in white wine

Cork taint in wine produced by 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) is characterised by generally unacceptable musty or earthy odours. Estimates of TCA threshold in wine have been reported in the low parts per trillion (ppt) range, although it is not clear at what levels TCA begins to render a wine unacceptable. We conducted two studies to address this question by using a method that combined a paired preference test with a method of constant stimuli threshold procedure. The aim was to determine the point at which wine consumers would begin to reject a wine containing TCA, which we termed the consumer rejection threshold (CRT). Regular white wine consumers (Ss) received pairs of samples of white wine––one spiked with TCA in eight ascending concentrations––and were asked to indicate which of the samples was preferred. Detection thresholds (DT) for TCA in wine were also determined using triangle tests. The CRT and DT were 3.1 and 2.1 ppt, respectively. CRT and DT were significantly positively correlated with one another, and negatively correlated with TCA knowledge. A replication provided a similar CRT value, and suggested that a percentage of consumers are either highly insensitive to TCA or do not find it objectionable. These results suggest that the use of this method may provide a rational basis on which to assess the real impact of TCA in white wine.

Disclosure of CAM use to medical practitioners: a review of qualitative and quantitative studies

Many people use complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). It is estimated that over 50% of patients that require health care use CAM either in conjunction with, or separate from, conventional health care. Despite the popular use of CAM, patients do not always inform their conventional medicine health carers of their CAM use. The medical practitioner is in most cases the first health care professional a person contacts concerning a health care matter, and needs to have a full history of a health problem to understand and provide optimum care. This literature review aims to provide an understanding of the degree to which patients disclose their use of CAM to their medical practitioners, and their reasons for not doing so. A comprehensive literature search identified 12 studies published between 1993 and 2002 that examined what percentage of consumers did not disclose to their medical practitioners their use of CAM, and their reasons for not doing so. The rate of non-disclosure of those using CAM is as high as 77% in some studies. The main reasons patients provided for not disclosing their use of CAM to their medical practitioners were concerns about a negative response by the practitioners, the belief that the practitioner did not need to know about their CAM use, and the fact that the practitioner did not ask. The pre-conceptions patients have that influence their non-disclosure may be based on three issues. First, beliefs and concerns that influence their decision-making, second personal experiences in their consultations with medical practitioners, and third, the desire for more control over their health care. Medical practitioners need to acknowledge the concerns and beliefs of patients in making their health care decisions, and work with patients so that the use of CAM is acknowledged and the patients' needs, beliefs and concerns respected.

Application of Levitt's Total Product Concept to Pharmacist Services Development

ABSTRACTDimensions of pharmacist services were identified based on consumer importance ratings of service activities. The service activities and dimensions were then categorized according to Levitt's total product concept. Via a mailed survey, consumers rated the importance of 30 pharmacist services and noted for each service whether they had ever experienced the service. Service dimensions were identified by factor analysis, and the individual services and dimensions were assigned to core, expected, augmented, or potential product types by the percentage of consumers having experience with the service(s). Four pharmacist service dimensions resulted and were labeled as Nonprescription Drug Activities, Prescription Drug Activities, Medication Administration Activities, and Education and Informatics Activities. Low rates of experience with activities in the Education and Informatics Activities dimension suggested that it fit the potential product category. Experience with other activities led to categorizin...

Global Retailers and Corporate Responsibility

Consumers and companies are paying more attention to responsible behaviour. What is more, the percentage of consumers who state they are ready to abandon a brand for environmental reasons has grown. Companies also perceive the value of responsibility to the environment and society. Even in areas where these issues have become commonplace (primarily in the Anglo-American world), consumers tend to support the problem much more in their statements than in their actual purchasing behaviour. Where retail companies are concerned, the acceptance of responsibility to the environment and to society is reflected in a number of motivations. First of all, the possibility of distinguishing themselves from the competition, which is the element most perceived by both mainstream and specialist companies. This is true in the food sector above all and in fields where the risk of accidents is greatest. Another motivation may be the fact that they could be eligible for ethical investment funds, particularly in the USA.

Similarities and differences in choosing health plans.

Increasingly, consumers have multiple health insurance options. New information is being developed to help consumers with these choices. To study similarities and differences in how the publicly and privately insured choose health plans. To explore the effect of traditional enrollment materials and reports developed by the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study (CAHPS) on consumers' perceptions and decision-making. Using data from eight CAHPS demonstrations, we tested for significant differences across consumers with employer-sponsored insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare. Approximately 10,000 consumers with employer-sponsored, Medicaid, and Medicare health plans. Perceptions of the health plan selection process, use of information sources, and reactions to and use of traditional enrollment materials and CAHPS reports. Most consumers with all types of insurance thought that choosing a health plan was important and obtained information from multiple sources. Choosing a plan was more difficult for Medicare and Medicaid recipients than for the privately insured. When choosing a plan, Medicaid recipients cared most about convenience and access, whereas the privately insured emphasized providers and costs. The percentage of consumers who looked at and remembered the CAHPS report varied widely from 24% to 77%. In all but one of the demonstration sites, most consumers spent less than 30 minutes looking at the CAHPS report. Group sponsors and the developers of information interventions such as CAHPS may need to invest in developing and testing different reporting approaches for Medicare, Medicaid, and privately insured consumers.

Understanding American and Chinese consumer acceptance of ‘Redglobe’ table grapes

‘In-store’ consumer acceptance tests were performed on a group of 400 American consumers and 250 native Chinese consumers to determine the relationship between ripe soluble solids concentration (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) on consumer acceptance of ‘Redglobe’ grapes for different ethnic groups. For this, a group of Caucasian, Hispanic and Chinese-American consumers and a group of native Chinese consumers tasted monadically four individual berry half samples at room temperature with SSC ranging from 10 to 20% and TA from 0.30 to 1.80%. Grapes with SSC 16.1% were accepted by 70% of the American consumers and 47% of the Chinese consumers. However, the percentage of consumers that disliked these grapes was the same ( 21) for both ethnic groups. The difference in the percentages of Chinese and American consumers accepting the grapes was due to the ‘neither like nor dislike’ category. Chinese consumers chose the ‘neither like nor dislike’ category in approximately 34% of the cases, while approximately only 7% of the American consumers chose it. Our data confirmed that ‘Redglobe’ consumer acceptance is highly related to SSC:TA ratio but within a given SSC and TA level. In contrast to American consumers, Chinese consumer acceptance was not related to SSC:TA ratio when TA 0.80%. Thus, our work indicates that high TA affects consumer acceptance in relation to SSC:TA ratio depending on ethnic background. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

How the variability issue was uncovered: the history of the UK residue variability findings

As a result of routine monitoring data on carrots generated in the 1990s indicating MRL exceedances, further studies showed that residues of organophosphorus compounds in individual roots could vary up to 25 times the levels found in composite samples. Additional work found that this phenomenon also extended to other crops including apples, peaches and celery. Variability (defined as the highest residue level found in any one crop item divided by the level found in a composite sample from the same batch) of up to 34 times mean values was found in one batch of plums. Conventional deterministic methods used in consumer assessments were likely to give gross overestimates of short-term exposure because of the assumptions employed. This led to the development of probabilistic models which made the best use of all available information and was capable of indicating percentages of consumers that could exceed relevant toxicological end points. This indicated that there was unlikely to be serious health effects as a result of ingesting these residues and has subsequently proved to be a useful aid to regulatory decision making.

The Variation of Pesticide Residues in Fruits and Vegetables and the Associated Assessment of Risk

High levels of triazophos residues detected in carrots during routine monitoring led to the discovery of a wide variability between levels in individual roots. Conventional point estimates of consumer exposure were carried out. Due to the assumptions used, these calculations were likely to give rise to gross overestimates. In 1997, data were obtained for individual apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, oranges, bananas, and tomatoes that showed similar levels of variability in a range of organophosphate and carbamate residues. Point estimate models that had previously been used for intake estimates for carrots were not appropriate since it was necessary to take account of not only the variation of residue levels from crop item to crop item but also the variation in eating patterns in individual consumers. Probabilistic modeling was identified as a suitable way to produce multifactorial submodels and address some of the problems of combining distributions of consumption and residues. Consumption data from 1675 toddlers were linked with residue distributions from individual crop items not only to allow combinations of fruit consumed but also to allow for the variability in residue levels that occur between individual crop items. The model was also capable of taking account of the percentages of crops that did not contain any detectable residues; this information was available from initial screens of bulked samples and percentage of crop not treated in the case of carrots. The outputs from the models were given as percentages of consumers that could exceed a toxicological end point; this could be the acute reference dose or a factor of the no-observable-adverse-effect level. Modeling in this way was considered to give a realistic view of the likely short-term exposure and the output was used as an aid to decision making in terms of necessary regulatory action. As a result of high levels of triazophos detected in carrots during routine monitoring, studies were carried out to determine the variability of organophosphate residue levels in individual roots. Results obtained indicated that the highest residue levels could be 25 times the mean level in bulked samples (which were used in routine monitoring). Since sufficient levels of organophosphate compounds can give rise to toxicological effects after a single exposure, it was considered necessary to carry out assessments of short-term or acute consumer risk. At that time, models available worldwide were designed only to carry out point estimates of long-term exposure. From consumption data, it was possible to derive the levels of carrot consumption during a single day and calculations were carried out assuming all carrots contained the highest levels of residues found in trials. This led to a gross overestimate of likely exposure but was considered to give to intakes that eroded margins of safety; these were not a cause for extreme regulatory action. Further studies were carried out on other crops that may be eaten whole, at one sitting, and without processing to consider whether the large variability of organophosphate residues was a phenomenon that was common to other fruits and vegetables.

Nutrient and food intakes in selected subgroups of Belgian adults.

In March 1997, official dietary guidelines were for the first time published in Belgium by the National Council on Nutrition. These guidelines are entirely focussed on nutrient intake and do not translate this information into specific 'food-based' recommendations. In this paper, actual intake data for the adult Belgian population are compared to these guidelines. It is concluded that the overall macronutrient intake pattern in Belgium corresponds to the typical Western so-called affluent diet. As a next step, an attempt is made to outline a conceptual framework for developing food-based dietary guidelines on the basis of existing food consumption databases. For that purpose, nutrient and food intake profiles--percentage of consumers and mean intakes for the total population and for consumers only--are studied for subgroups of the population that do or do not comply to predefined dietary goals for total fat intake, fibre intake, and fruit and vegetable intake. Finally, it is shown with an example that these data can be used as a basis for formulating healthy food recommendations towards the general population in terms of specific foods or food groups to be avoided or to be chosen preferably. The food and nutrient intake data used in this paper are from the BIRNH study (Belgian Interuniversity Research on Nutrition and Health, 1980-1984), the only nationwide food consumption survey on an individual level ever carried out in Belgium.

An approach to the development of food-based dietary guidelines for Ireland.

The aim of the present study was to analyse the different food and nutrient intakes of the adult Irish population from the lowest and highest quartiles of intake for total fat (%energy) dietary fibre (g/MJ) and fruit and vegetables (g/day). Data on Irish adults (n = 715) from the Irish National Nutrition Survey conducted in 1989 were used for the analyses and showed that the average diet is low in dietary fibre, with fruit and vegetables being only half the recommended level of 400 g. Comparisons of people with low or high intakes (from lowest and highest quartiles) of total fat (%energy), dietary fibre (g/MJ) and fruit and vegetables (g/day) show patterns of food intake differing in both the percentage of consumers and in the mean intakes among consumers only. This analysis provides data which may be useful as a first step towards the development of food-based dietary guidelines for Ireland. In particular, the low intake of fruit and vegetables in the adult Irish population deserves special attention.

Consumer Attitudes Toward Irradiated Food: Results of a New Study

A survey was conducted to determine current consumer attitudes toward irradiation. The mailed questionnaire was designed to be self-administered. Results were obtained from responses of 54% of 918 questionnaires mailed out to consumers in the metro-Atlanta area. Results indicated that 72% of consumers are aware of irradiation and, among these, 87.5% indicated that they have heard about irradiation but do not really know that much about it. Over 30% of consumers believe that irradiated food is radioactive. Consumers are less concerned about irradiation than they are about food additives, pesticide residues, animal drug residues, growth hormones, and bacteria. The risk to workers and environmental issues are among the top concerns regarding irradiation. The percentage of consumers who would buy irradiated food is 45%; 19% would not buy it, and others are undecided. Results indicate that a more favorable response will be observed when a choice of irradiated poultry, meats, and seafood is offered.

Network capitation practices: a new concept.

The percentage of consumers in the U. S. covered by dental insurance has increased dramatically over the last 10 years. As dental insurance grows, it is becoming increasingly important to examine the context of dental care payment systems. At present, almost all insurance programs are geared toward the fee-for-service system, which reimburses dentists a fixed sum for each type of procedure. The exceptions to fee-for-service dental insurance plans are few. A capitation program for dental care, which reimburses dentists a fixed amount per enrolled patient regardless of services rendered, offers many advantages for both consumers and providers and should be available as an option. Network capitation represents a new approach to the payment of dental care. A network capitation program is being developed in the United States and will use an approach involving two contracts, one which will be used with an insurance company, and the second with a network of private practitioners. The insurance company will supply dental practices with dental patients and funds on a capitation basis. Patients will be given the choice of fee-for-service or capitation. Network capitation allows fee-for-service solo or group practitioners to incorporate capitation patients into their practice.

Equilibrium Comparison Shopping

The most important issue in the legal debates over the form consumer protection legislation should take is whether the state should specify the terms on which consumers may contract or cause the disclosure of information to them. Proponents of disclosure argue that providing information will make markets more competitive. The statutory preamble to the famed Truth in Lending Law ( TIL ) recites: The Congress finds that ... competition among the various financial institutions and other firms engaged in the extension of consumer credit would be strengthened by the informed use of credit . Also, the recent Magnuson-Moss Warranty-Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act provides: In order to ... improve competition in the marketing of consumer products, any warrantor shall ... fully and conspicuously disclose ... the terms and conditions of such warranty . Legal opponents of disclosure argue that consumers will not read the information provided. Several studies of the effectiveness of TIL, summarized in the Report of the National Commission on Consumer Finance, are cited by both sides. Those studies indicate that the number of people unaware of the Annual Percentage Rate paid on credit for recent purchases ranges from almost 90 per cent in poverty areas to 52 per cent in markets populated by relatively affluent buyers. Opponents of disclosure argue that such low awareness levels are inconsistent with the existence of competitive markets. The apparent force of this point is partly responsible for the schizophrenic nature of American consumer protection legislation. The statutes quoted above, despite their paens to disclosure, also regulate the substance of consumer sales contracts. For example, the Magnuson-Moss Act requires the disclosure of warranty terms, but also prohibits sellers in many cases from shifting purchase risks to buyers. Proponents of disclosure regulation, however, argue that the awareness levels reported above will easily yield competitive outcomes. Thus Senator Douglas, the principal legislative supporter of TIL, asserted, unfortunately without explanation, that a competitive market would exist if only 10 per cent of the consumers were cost conscious . The inconclusiveness of this debate seems largely a function of the absence of rigorous analytical tools with which to answer the question how much information is enough. Surprisingly little attention has been devoted to the issue in the economics literature. This paper reflects the beginning of an attempt to resolve it. In particular, it addresses two questions: First, what kinds of equilibria exist when various percentages of consumers are informed? Second, is reducing consumer search costs, the standard technique of modern disclosure legislation, useful in generating competitive equilibria? Both questions are central to the current public policy debate respecting the form which state intervention in consumer markets should take. The equilibrium search models which have been developed in recent years are capable of addressing these questions rigorously. This paper develops one such model which incorporates elements of fixed sample size search. The emphasis on this search strategy

The Cognitive Algebra of the Parametric Marginal Desirability Model: A Research Note

An asymmetric multiplying cognitive algebra is implied theoretically by the parametric marginal desirability model. When given a PMD task, a substantial percentage of consumers do employ the predicted cognitive algebra.