Big issues for a small technology: Consumer trade-offs in acceptance of nanotechnology in food

Publication date: Available online 13 August 2019Source: Innovative Food Science & Emerging TechnologiesAuthor(s): M. Henchion, M. McCarthy, E.J. Dillon, G. Greehy, S.N. McCarthyAbstractNanotechnology offers many potential applications across the supply chain which could result in a more sustainable agriculture and food system. However, considerable challenges still exist in realising its potential, including consumer acceptance. This research examines consumer perspectives on two different nanotechnology applications (in packaging for chicken fillets and in cheese) using conjoint analysis. A face-to-face survey of 1046 Irish adults was undertaken. It finds that technology has a significant impact on consumer food choices (higher levels of acceptance with traditional technology rather than nanotechnology), that different applications of a technology can result in varying levels of acceptance (higher acceptance for nanotechnology in packaging of chicken fillets rather than in the cheese product) and that offering salient benefits (e.g. health or lower price) can off-set technology concerns in some but not all instances. Differences amongst consumer segments also exist with price having low utility for “health focused consumers” but having high utility for “conventional consumers”.Industrial relevanceThis research provides industry with an overview of consumer perceptions around two potential nano-inside and nano-outside product applications elicited through a nationall...
Source: Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies - Category: Food Science Source Type: research