scholarly journals The Impact of Attitude, Consumer Innovativeness and Interpersonal Influence on Functional Food Consumption

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filiz Bozkurt Bekoglu ◽  
Ahu Ergen ◽  
Burcu Inci
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Functional Food ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Interpersonal Influence ◽  
Consumer Innovativeness ◽  
Food Market ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Expensive Process

<p>There is a growing demand towards functional foods which give the consumers a chance to have a healthier diet without changing their current habits. Due to this appealing benefit, functional food market is rapidly growing and there is a raising interest in consumer research regarding functional foods. The main purpose of this study is to explore the impact of attitude towards the necessity of functional food, interpersonal influence and consumer innovativeness on functional food consumption. The secondary purpose is to find out whether functional food consumption varies according to demographic variables. The study covers 695 consumers living in İstanbul. The results show that people who believe functional foods are necessary, who are influenced by other people and who are innovative, are more likely to consume functional foods. It is also found that functional food consumption is higher among single and lower among educated people. Developing a new functional food is an expensive process and the companies need to have detailed knowledge on the products, consumer expectations and motives. So, it is believed that this study will contribute to explore functional food market and consumers in Turkey.</p>

scholarly journals Consumers’ Requirements for Functional Foods

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 138
Author(s):  
Corina MAXIM ◽  
Anca FĂRCAȘ ◽  
Dan Cristian VODNAR ◽  
Maria TOFANĂ ◽  
Sonia SOCACI
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Functional Food ◽  
Nutrient Intake ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Rural And Urban Area ◽  
Different Levels

Although there is still no legal definition, functional foods are considered by the scientific community as providing additional benefits beyond the general benefits of nutrient intake and satisfaction of hunger. The bioactive compounds present in these products should provide a scientifically proven health benefit for the prevention, management or treatment of chronic disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the consumers’ awareness, knowledge and interest for functional food consumption. The study was conducted on 120 respondents that answered a 16-questionaire distributed online. The participants were adults from rural and urban area, with different levels of education. The data collected from the respondents showed that women are more aware and interested in functional foods than the male respondents. Only 15% of the participants said that they do not know the meaning of the term “functional foods”. This study has shown that the knowledge and interest of consumers’ for the functional foods is influenced by factors such as gender, age, education or income level. The prices together with the sensorial and health benefits were among the decisive factors.

scholarly journals The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Composition of Dietary Supplements and Functional Foods Notified in Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 11751
Author(s):  
Kacper Wróbel ◽  
Anna Milewska ◽  
Michał Marczak ◽  
Remigiusz Kozłowski
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Functional Food ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Preceding Period ◽  
Proportional Increase ◽  
Online Searches ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Universal Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a strong impact on numerous areas of everyday life. The aim of this study was to check how the pandemic influenced the composition of dietary supplements and other functional food products placed on the market till March 2021, compared to 2019. For this purpose, data concerning the registered products and reports of popularity of online searches of terms connected with vitamins and minerals were used. The results of the study made it possible to determine the group of ingredients especially popular during the pandemic. Their use in products after the announcement of the pandemic was significantly higher than in the preceding period. In conclusion, it can be shown that the pandemic changed the ingredients used in functional foods—mainly as far as vitamins and minerals are concerned. The highest proportional increase in its use in dietary supplements was noted for potassium. Personalized therapy has also become more popular, promoted by one of the manufacturers of dietary supplements active during the pandemic. Moreover, different phases of the pandemic were characterized by the popularity of different ingredients among the consumers—first, these were immunity-boosting ingredients, then those that improved psychological functions, and finally mixtures with universal health effects.

scholarly journals Intention To Consume Towards Functional Foods Among Senior Citizen In Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Febian Flaviana Ivy ◽  
Syed Annuar, Sharifah Nurafizah
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Future Study ◽  
Functional Food ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Senior Citizen ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
The Other ◽  
Shopping Mall ◽  
Perceived Susceptibility ◽  
Perceived Benefit

The trend nowadays is that when consumers prefer convenient food compared to healthy food. Due to numerous health threats, the demands for health foods are increasing. This can be seen from the number of purchases of functional foods which have improved tremendously in the market. This study was conducted to examine the influence of perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits and cue to action on intention to consume functional food among senior citizen. The respondents were 250 conveniently selected senior citizen who are visiting shopping mall. Data were collected by using a selfadministered questionnaire. The findings revealed that one factor such as perceived benefit recorded a significant and positive influence on intention to consume functional food. On the other hand, perceived susceptibility and cue to action were deemed as not significant in influencing functional food consumption intention. Future study was also proposed.

scholarly journals Understanding heterogeneity among elderly consumers: an evaluation of segmentation approaches in the functional food market

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotte D. T. van der Zanden ◽  
Ellen van Kleef ◽  
René A. de Wijk ◽  
Hans C. M. van Trijp
Keyword(s):  
Functional Food ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Time Perspective ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Food Beliefs ◽  
Health Community ◽  
Nutritional Needs ◽  
Food Market ◽  
Elderly Consumers

It is beneficial for both the public health community and the food industry to meet nutritional needs of elderly consumers through product formats that they want. The heterogeneity of the elderly market poses a challenge, however, and calls for market segmentation. Although many researchers have proposed ways to segment the elderly consumer population, the elderly food market has received surprisingly little attention in this respect. Therefore, the present paper reviewed eight potential segmentation bases on their appropriateness in the context of functional foods aimed at the elderly: cognitive age, life course, time perspective, demographics, general food beliefs, food choice motives, product attributes and benefits sought, and past purchase. Each of the segmentation bases had strengths as well as weaknesses regarding seven evaluation criteria. Given that both product design and communication are useful tools to increase the appeal of functional foods, we argue that elderly consumers in this market may best be segmented using a preference-based segmentation base that is predictive of behaviour (for example, attributes and benefits sought), combined with a characteristics-based segmentation base that describes consumer characteristics (for example, demographics). In the end, the effectiveness of (combinations of) segmentation bases for elderly consumers in the functional food market remains an empirical matter. We hope that the present review stimulates further empirical research that substantiates the ideas presented in this paper.

scholarly journals Association of Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Functional Food Consumption and Anthropometric Characteristics with Anxiety and Depression Indexes in a Sample of Healthy Greek Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-149
Author(s):  
Ioannis-Nektarios Elmaliklis ◽  
Elisavet Miserli ◽  
Maria Filipatou ◽  
Ioannis Tsikouras ◽  
Charalampia Dimou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Trait Anxiety ◽  
Functional Food ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Anthropometric Indices ◽  
Diet Adherence ◽  
Mediterranean Diet Adherence ◽  
Consumption Frequency

The purpose of this randomized, retrospective study was to investigate the possible association among levels of anxiety and depression and functional food consumption frequency, Mediterranean diet adoption and anthropometric indices in a sample of Greek, mainly young, adults. One hundred twenty healthy adults, 80% of whom were 18–35 years old, were randomly recruited from the North Aegean Islands, mainly from the Aegean University campus. The degree of anxiety was evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-X-1,2) whereas the degree of depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Mediterranean diet adherence was evaluated using the Med Diet Score and functional foods consumption frequency by a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). According to our results, the study did not show a statistically significant association between Mediterranean diet adherence and anxiety or depression levels (p > 0.05), and a trend association was observed only for the depression grouped score. In parallel, increased depression level was significantly correlated with an increased body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.019). In addition, the consumption of specific functional foods, such as beans, nuts, pomegranate, spinach and foods enriched with β-glucans, correlated with state-trait anxiety or depression levels, as well as with anthropometric indices (p < 0.05). The results of the study may contribute to the elucidation of the possible role of the Mediterranean diet and functional food consumption on self-esteem, anxiety and depression.

scholarly journals Consumer-Behavioural Intention Towards The Consumption Of Functional Food In Malaysia: Their Profiles And Behaviours

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 727
Author(s):  
Hayatul Safrah Salleh ◽  
Azila Mohd Noor ◽  
Nik Hazimah Nik Mat ◽  
Yusnita Yusof ◽  
Wan Norhayati Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Functional Food ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Behavioural Intention ◽  
Market Opportunity ◽  
Unhealthy Eating ◽  
The World ◽  
Promising Avenue

Unhealthy eating behaviour has been linked to the risks of many chronic diseases all around the world. Functional foods and its association with health benefits and reducing the risk of diseases open a promising avenue for consumers to pursue a healthier life as well as extending their life expectancy. This provides a great market opportunity for functional foods to be developed. Consequently, it has generated considerable consumer interest in functional food consumption. This study describes the profiles and behaviours of the consumers who are willing to consume functional foods in Malaysia. By using mall intercept surveys, data were collected from consumers shopping at hypermarkets in Malaysia. From the analysis undertaken, it was found that the level of consumer-behavioural intention to consume functional food is encouraging. The results indicated that behavioural intention towards functional food tends to be different across gender, age and marital status. However this study found that the extent of consumer-behavioural intention does not vary by ethnicity, religion, income and education. Future study was also proposed.

scholarly journals An Epidemiological Study Report on the Antioxidant and Phenolic Content of Selected Mediterranean Functional Foods, Their Consumption Association with the Body Mass Index, and Consumers Purchasing Behavior in a Sample of Healthy Greek Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 7818
Author(s):  
Aikaterini Kandyliari ◽  
Ioannis-Nektarios Elmaliklis ◽  
Olga Kontopoulou ◽  
Marianna Tsafkopoulou ◽  
Georgios Komninos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Functional Food ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Phenolic Content ◽  
Purchasing Behavior ◽  
Red Peppers ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Greek Adults

Functional food consumption is shown to have a positive effect on anthropometric parameters and human health promotion. In addition, consumers seem to be more interested in food choices, that may have a positive effect on their health. The current study aimed to identify the antioxidant and phenolic content of naturally functional foods from the Mediterranean diet and to investigate consumer behavior towards their consumption in terms of their weight control, as well as their purchasing behavior and knowledge of functional foods. For this purpose, blueberries, cranberries, pomegranate, grapefruit, red peppers, almonds and mountain tea were analyzed for their phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, using the Folin-Ciocalteau and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assays, respectively. Furthermore, nine hundred forty-nine healthy Greek adults participated in an epidemiological study, by completing a validated food frequency questionnaire, for the consumption of the above investigated functional foods. Five hundred and fifty participants also completed an online questionnaire investigating factors that consumers evaluate when purchasing functional foods. Study results showed that the analyzed functional foods were high in antioxidants and phenolic compounds, especially the mountain tea. The increased consumption of cranberries, pomegranate, grapefruit, red peppers and mountain tea was significantly correlated with a decreased Body Mass Index, suggesting a possible positive role, in weight control. Participants seemed to be aware of the beneficial role of these specific investigated Mediterranean functional foods to human health. They evaluated the price, taste and nutritional value, as critical factors to buy these food products. A combination of factors seems to lead them to purchase and consume these functional foods. Future epidemiological and clinical studies should be conducted in order to further evaluate consumer preferences and bioactivity mechanisms related to Mediterranean functional food consumption.

scholarly journals Purchasing functional foods to stay fit

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-18
Author(s):  
Hasliza Hassan ◽  
Abu Bakar Sade ◽  
Lohan Selva Subramaniam
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Functional Food ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Media Influence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Willingness To Purchase

Purpose Health fitness has become a major issue in Malaysia since the population of overweight and obesity is becoming critical. One of the ways to achieve optimum health fitness is by consistently consuming balanced diet meals. Hence, this paper aims to focus on the willingness of society to purchase functional foods as an alternative for their daily meals to stay fit. Design/methodology/approach The research framework was developed based on a combination of findings by other research scholars within a similar field. The willingness to purchase functional foods to stay fit is positioned as the dependent variable, while lifestyle adaptation, social media influence and food consumption awareness are placed as the independent variables. Quantitative research was conducted by collecting primary data from respondents in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The collected data were analysed using descriptive and regression analyses. Findings The willingness to purchase functional foods to stay fit is dependent on the lifestyle adaptation, social media influence and food consumption awareness. Research limitations/implications Although the current market for functional foods in Malaysia is still at a small scale, the market for this industry seems very promising. Nevertheless, greater awareness on functional food is still needed. Practical implications Functional food producers should make an effort to gain the untapped market by focussing on the lifestyle adaptation, social media influence and food consumption awareness. Originality/value This research is a breakthrough to discover the willingness of Malaysians to purchase functional food to stay fit, which is influenced by lifestyle adaptation, social media and food consumption awareness.

scholarly journals Immune-Boosting Functional Foods: A Potential Remedy for Chinese Consumers Living Under Polluted Air

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Cong ◽  
Miranda Mirosa ◽  
William Kaye-Blake ◽  
Phil Bremer
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Functional Food ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Market Potential ◽  
Chinese Consumers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Immune Health ◽  
The Impact

The deterioration of air quality in China has resulted in many people looking for remedies to counteract the impact that air pollution is perceived to be having on their health. As the importance of diet on immune health is becoming increasingly well recognised, a narrative literature review was undertaken to elucidate Chinese consumers’ acceptance of functional food products designed to help the immune system recover from pollution-driven impact and to assess their market potential. Consumers’ attitude towards immune-boosting functional foods were mainly positive, with scientific validation being important in determining the credibility of a product. This was despite the fact that the effectiveness of the functional food products currently in the market that purported to be remedies for pollution-driven impacts on the lung did not appear to be supported by scientific evidence. Numerous studies have reported functional foods could provide a wide range of benefits to immune health, including helping pollution-driven immune issues. This review highlights the market demand for effective and scientifically-proven functional food products that help Chinese consumers’ immune system recover from the impact of air pollution.

Understanding variations in the consumption of functional foods – evidence from Croatia

2014 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 662-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ružica Brečić ◽  
Matthew Gorton ◽  
Dominique Barjolle
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Functional Food ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Probit Model ◽  
Perceived Health Status ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face

Purpose – Drawing on a representative survey, this paper aims to identify the determinants of functional food consumption in Croatia. The objective is to introduce and test a conceptual model that four sets of factors (food choice motivations, demographic and socio-economic characteristics, knowledge of functional food and health status) underpin variations in functional food consumption. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected via face-to-face interviews conducted in respondents' homes. Consumption of functional foods is modelled as a bootstrapped ordered probit model. Findings – Results confirm the significant influence of all four sets of factors for explaining variations in functional food consumption. Heavier users of functional food are those that place a greater weighting on health and convenience in food choice. In contrast, the salience of familiarity in food choice is negatively related with functional food consumption. Females and those with higher levels of educational attainment are heavier consumers of functional food. While perceived health status appears not to have any significant relationship with functional food consumption, there is a link with body mass index. Functional foods appeal most to those concerned about their health and desire convenient, “quick fixes”. Such “quick fixes” may however be employed at the expense of more fundamental adjustments to diet and fitness, which may provide the basis for superior overall disease prevention/health promotion. Originality/value – The study represents one of the first assessments of functional food consumption in Central and Eastern Europe, introducing and testing a comprehensive conceptual model.

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