Food Choice And The Consumer

The provision of food for consumers is affected by factors concerned with a variety of disciplines such as technical feasibility, choice and environment. This book explores these factors.

Food Choice and the Consumer fulfils two needs. First, it captures the inter-disciplinary aspects of food choice and advocates an appreciation for other perspectives on the subject in an attempt to discourage some of the disciplinary parochialism which surrounds this area. Second, it accom modates a range of different approaches to domestic food choice in a coherent way by encouraging the reader to see food choice as comprising a set of key tasks, such as shopping, preparing, cooking, etc. Further more, it illustrates the way in which the antecedents of choice vary according to which stage in the 'decision process' the 'enigmatic' con sumer finds him or herself. Food Choice and the Consumer is written for a wide audience including: academics and students interested in food related topics; policy makers, nutritionists and health educators striving to improve the nation's diet; food manufacturers and retailers keen to gain an insight into some of the underlying motivations, concerns and constraints on consumers' food choice. This is not about specific brands, but about consumers and the many factors that influence their choice. Rather than an ABC of food choice, this book aims to stimulate interest while offering the commercial sector, suffering from increasing competition and brand myopia, a fresh perspective on consumer food choice. I hope that this book will con tribute to the ongoing debate on food choice and bring us a little closer to understanding how and why consumers choose food.

A unique insight into the decision-making and food consumption of the European consumer. The volume is essential reading for those involved in product development, market research and consumer science in food and agro industries and academic research. It brings together experts from different disciplines in order to address the fundamental issues related to predicting food choice, consumer behavior and societal trust in quality and safety regulatory systems. The importance of the social and psychological context and the cross-cultural differences and how they influence food choice are also covered in great detail.

Written by leading international experts, this book explores one of the central difficulties faced by nutritionists today; how to improve people's health by getting them to change their dietary behaviour. It provides an overview of the current understanding of consumer food choice by exploring models of food choice, the motivations of consumers, biological, learning and societal influences on food choice, and food choices across the lifespan. It concludes by examining the barriers to dietary change and how nutritionists can best impact upon dietary behaviour.

It is critical for the food industry to maintain a current understanding of the factors affecting food choice, acceptance and consumption since these influence all aspects of its activities. This subject has matured in recent years and, for the first time, this book brings together a coherent body of knowledge which draws on the experiences in industrial and academic settings of an international team of authors. Written for food technologists and marketeers, the book is also an essential reference for all those concerned with the economic, social, and psychological aspects of the subject.

In order for food businesses, scientists and policy makers to develop successful products, services and policies, it is essential that they understand food consumers and how they decide which products to buy. Food consumer behaviour is the result of various factors, including the motivations of different consumers, the attributes of specific foods, and the environment in which food choices occur. Recognising diversity between individual consumers, different stages of life, and different cultural contexts is increasingly important as markets become increasingly diverse and international. The book begins with a comprehensive introduction and analysis of the key drivers of consumer food choices, such as the environment and sensory product features. Part two examines the role of consumers’ attitudes towards quality and marketing, and their views on food preparation and technology. Part three covers cultural and individual differences in food choice as well as addressing potentially influential factors such as age and gender. Important topics such as public health and methods to change consumers’ preferences for unhealthy foods are discussed in part four. The final section concludes with advice on developing coherent safety policies and the consumers’ responsibility for food production and consumption. Understanding consumers of food products is a standard reference for all those in the food industry concerned with product development and regulation. Develop an understanding of buyer behaviour to assist developing successful products Recognise the diversity between consumers and learn how to cater for their needs Covers cultural and individual differences in food choice

The acceptance and preference of the sensory properties of foods are among the most important criteria determining food choice. Sensory perception and our response to food products, and finally food choice itself, are affected by a myriad of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The pressing question is, how do these factors specifically affect our acceptance and preference for foods, both in and of themselves, and in combination in various contexts, both fundamental and applied? In addition, which factors overall play the largest role in how we perceive and behave towards food in daily life? Finally, how can these factors be utilized to affect our preferences and final acceptance of real food and food products from industrial production and beyond for healthier eating? A closer look at trends in research showcasing the influence that these factors and our senses have on our perception and affective response to food products and our food choices is timely. Thus, in this Special Issue collection “Consumer Preferences and Acceptance of Food Products”, we bring together articles which encompass the wide scope of multidisciplinary research in the space related to the determination of key factors involved linked to fundamental interactions, cross-modal effects in different contexts and eating scenarios, as well as studies that utilize unique study design approaches and methodologies.