Life Sciences Commons^™

Plugging Into A New Age: The Impact Of Social Media Use On Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions Of Production Agriculture And Consumer Decisions, Shannon K. Allen

Theses and Dissertations

Today, 84% of young adults between the ages of 18-29 use at least one social media site (Pew Research Center, 2020) and are in the stages of emerging adulthood where they are making independent decisions for the first time (Arnett, 2000). As society becomes more technologically advanced, we become further removed from agriculture (Powell & Agnew, 2011; Dale et al., 2017). Thus, resulting in a separation between consumer and producer (Wilson & Lusk, 2020; Holt & Cartmell, 2013). This leaves the opportunity for society to turn to social media for agriculture information leading to negative perceptions of agriculture (Eyck, 2000; …

New England’S Underutilized Seafood Species: Defining And Exploring Marketplace Potential In A Changing Climate, Amanda Davis

Masters Theses

New England’s seafood industry has been searching for opportunities to diversify their landings and build resilience as it faces socio-economic challenges from a changing climate. Developing markets for underutilized species is one way the New England community could help their seafood industry build resilience. This thesis identified New England’s underutilized fish species and explored their marketplace potential by examining their availability in a changing climate, current availability to consumers, and consumers’ responses. In Chapter I, I account how New England’s seafood preferences have changed over time. In Chapter II, I identify New England’s seven underutilized seafood species: 1) Acadian redfish …

Early Covid-19 Impacts On Food Retail And Restaurants: Consumer Perspectives From Vermont, Emily H. Belarmino, Farryl Bertmann, Thomas Wentworth, Erin Biehl, Roni Neff, Meredith T. Niles

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Publications

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected people worldwide, disrupting food access and security. To understand how food systems and security are impacted during this pandemic, an online survey was launched in Vermont from March 29th - April 12th, 2020 (less than a week after the Governor’s Stay Home/Stay Safe order). A total of 3,219 Vermonters responded, and nearly half provided written remarks in response to open-ended questions about worries or general comments. This brief summarizes survey findings and respondent comments about food retail and restaurants. We use quantitative data to understand the frequency of beliefs and behaviors, and qualitative …

Marketing Power Berries: An Importance-Performance Analysis Of Blueberry, Shuyang Qu, Alexa J. Lamm, Joy N. Rumble

Journal of Applied Communications

The unique health benefits of blueberries have increased consumers’ demand for this fruit. Although the demand is still low compared to other fruits including apples and grapes, consumers’ growing interest in blueberries has led to a significant increase of blueberry acreage in the U.S., causing the supply to exceed demand. To increase blueberry consumption and sales for the benefits of both consumers’ health and the blueberry industry, this study selected 18 blueberry attributes and used an online survey to examine blueberry purchasers’ perceived importance and satisfaction of these attributes. An importance-performance analysis (IPA) of these attributes was conducted to provide …

The Challenge Of Adverse Selection To Domestic Seafood Markets In Vietnam: Assessing Consumer Demand And Supply-Side Policy Options, Eliot Martin

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Vietnamese seafood industry has grown rapidly over the past few decades, largely rallying behind huge foreign demand. Institutions surrounding the production and processing of seafood for export have supported efforts to implement reliable regulations and eco-label certifications in line with demand for safe, environmentally friendly, and otherwise high quality products. No comparable efforts exist in the domestic market. Adverse selection is identified as the core problem with the lack of higher end goods on the domestic market, resulting from asymmetric information between producers and consumers, as well as moral hazard between actors in the supply chain. This study finds …

Assessing Alabama Consumer Attitudes And Beliefs About Locally Or Regionally Produced Livestock And Products, Nii O. Tackie, Jannette R. Bartlett, Akua Adu-Gyamfi

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Abstract

Local and regional food production has gained increased interest of consumers in recent years. The study, therefore, focused on assessing consumer attitudes and beliefs on local or regional livestock products. Data were obtained from a convenience sample of 432 participants from South Central Alabama, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including chi-square tests. A majority of respondents thought using chemicals and additives in locally or regionally produced beef or goat meat was a serious hazard. Therefore, many were willing to pay more for meat certified as locally or regionally produced. Also, most agreed or strongly agreed with statements on …

Consumers' Salient Beliefs Regarding Dairy Products In The Functional Food Era: A Qualitative Study Using Concepts From The Theory Of Planned Behaviour, Deborah Nolan, Elizabeth Neale, Yasmine Probst, Karen E. Charlton, Linda C. Tapsell

Karen E. Charlton

Background Inadequate consumption of dairy products without appropriate dietary substitution may have deleterious health consequences. Social research reveals the factors that may impede compliance with dietary recommendations. This is particularly important given the recent introduction of functional dairy products. One of the challenges for public health professionals is to demonstrate the efficacy of nutrition education in improving attitudes toward nutrient rich foods. The aim of this study was to explore the salient beliefs of adult weight loss trial participants regarding both traditional and functional dairy products and to compare these with a control group not exposed to nutrition education Methods …

Australian Mental Health Consumers' Contributions To The Evaluation And Improvement Of Recoveryoriented Service Provision, Sarah L. Marshall, Lindsay G. Oades, Trevor P. Crowe

Lindsay G Oades

No abstract provided.

Australian Consumer Attitudes To Health Claim - Food Product Compatibility For Functional Foods, P. G. Williams, L. Ridges, M. Batterham, B. Ripper, M. C. Hung

Dr Marijka Batterham

This study with Australian consumers investigated how appealing different health claims combined with particular food carriers were to Australian consumers, and compared the results of a similar study with Dutch consumers. 149 shoppers considered up to 30 different food concepts, rating how ‘attractive’, ‘believable’, and ‘new and different’ they found each concept and their ‘intention to try’. Each variable was significantly related to intention to try (p<0.001) and together explained 56% of the intention score. Claims and carriers independently had a significant effect on ratings of attractiveness and intention to try but, unlike the Dutch study, the carrier was a more important predictor of intention to purchase than the claim. Implications for regulation of health claims for food are discussed.

Consumers' Salient Beliefs Regarding Dairy Products In The Functional Food Era: A Qualitative Study Using Concepts From The Theory Of Planned Behaviour, Deborah Nolan, Elizabeth Neale, Yasmine Probst, Karen E. Charlton, Linda C. Tapsell

L. C. Tapsell

Background Inadequate consumption of dairy products without appropriate dietary substitution may have deleterious health consequences. Social research reveals the factors that may impede compliance with dietary recommendations. This is particularly important given the recent introduction of functional dairy products. One of the challenges for public health professionals is to demonstrate the efficacy of nutrition education in improving attitudes toward nutrient rich foods. The aim of this study was to explore the salient beliefs of adult weight loss trial participants regarding both traditional and functional dairy products and to compare these with a control group not exposed to nutrition education Methods …

Australian Mental Health Consumers' Contributions To The Evaluation And Improvement Of Recoveryoriented Service Provision, Sarah L. Marshall, Lindsay G. Oades, Trevor P. Crowe

Trevor Crowe

No abstract provided.

Mental Health Consumers' Perceptions Of Receiving Recovery-Focused Services, Sarah Marshall, Lindsay G. Oades, Trevor P. Crowe

Trevor Crowe

Method: A self-report questionnaire was developed drawing on key aspects of the Collaborative Recovery Model (CRM) (responsibility, collaboration, autonomy, motivation, needs, goals, homework). Ninety-two adult consumers from metropolitan, regional and rural non-government organizations and public mental health services in eastern Australian states completed the questionnaire. Results: Consumers using services provided by CRM trained workers identified significant changes to service delivery in relation to frequency with which they were encouraged to take responsibility for their recovery, degree to which they collaborated with staff and the extent to which they were encouraged to complete homework activities to assist them to achieve their …

Do We Provide Meaningful Guidance For Healthy Eating? An Investigation Into Consumers' Interpretation Of Frequency Consumption Terms, Lesley King, Wendy L. Watson, Kathy Chapman, Bridget Kelly, Jimmy Chun Yu Louie, Clare Hughes, Jennifer Crawford, Timothy P. Gill

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate consumers' understanding of terms commonly used to provide guidance about frequency and quantity of food consumption. METHODS: A survey of 405 shoppers explored how frequently consumers thought food labeled with the terms "eat often," "eat moderately," "eat occasionally," "a sometimes food," and "an extra food" should be eaten. In a separate phase, 30 grocery buyers responded to open-ended questions about their interpretation of these terms. RESULTS: Responses indicated significant differences in meaning between the terms. However, the specific interpretation of each term varied considerably across respondents. The qualitative research found the terms to be highly subjective, and …

Consumers' Salient Beliefs Regarding Dairy Products In The Functional Food Era: A Qualitative Study Using Concepts From The Theory Of Planned Behaviour, Deborah Nolan, Elizabeth Neale, Yasmine Probst, Karen E. Charlton, Linda C. Tapsell

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background Inadequate consumption of dairy products without appropriate dietary substitution may have deleterious health consequences. Social research reveals the factors that may impede compliance with dietary recommendations. This is particularly important given the recent introduction of functional dairy products. One of the challenges for public health professionals is to demonstrate the efficacy of nutrition education in improving attitudes toward nutrient rich foods. The aim of this study was to explore the salient beliefs of adult weight loss trial participants regarding both traditional and functional dairy products and to compare these with a control group not exposed to nutrition education Methods …

Alcohol Energy Drinks: Engaging Young Consumers In Co-Creation Of Alcohol Related Harm, Sandra C. Jones, Lance Barrie

Sandra Jones

Alcohol-energy drinks are a relatively new entry to the alcohol market, but have rapidly gained popularity among young drinkers. Unfortunately, these products are also associated with higher levels of alcohol-related harm, including negative health effects and increased levels of aggression and violence. This paper reports on the social image functions served by these products, as perceived by university students; and suggests that there is a need to look beyond alcohol advertising to other factors that increase consumption – including pricing, distribution, use of social media, and consumer co-creation of brand image. Keywords: attitude, behaviour, experience, perception, public health, responsibility, alcohol

Australian Mental Health Consumers' Contributions To The Evaluation And Improvement Of Recoveryoriented Service Provision, Sarah L. Marshall, Lindsay G. Oades, Trevor P. Crowe

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Australian Consumer Attitudes To Health Claim - Food Product Compatibility For Functional Foods, P. G. Williams, L. Ridges, M. Batterham, B. Ripper, M. C. Hung

Peter Williams

This study with Australian consumers investigated how appealing different health claims combined with particular food carriers were to Australian consumers, and compared the results of a similar study with Dutch consumers. 149 shoppers considered up to 30 different food concepts, rating how ‘attractive’, ‘believable’, and ‘new and different’ they found each concept and their ‘intention to try’. Each variable was significantly related to intention to try (p<0.001) and together explained 56% of the intention score. Claims and carriers independently had a significant effect on ratings of attractiveness and intention to try but, unlike the Dutch study, the carrier was a more important predictor of intention to purchase than the claim. Implications for regulation of health claims for food are discussed.

Alcohol Energy Drinks: Engaging Young Consumers In Co-Creation Of Alcohol Related Harm, Sandra C. Jones, Lance Barrie

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Alcohol-energy drinks are a relatively new entry to the alcohol market, but have rapidly gained popularity among young drinkers. Unfortunately, these products are also associated with higher levels of alcohol-related harm, including negative health effects and increased levels of aggression and violence. This paper reports on the social image functions served by these products, as perceived by university students; and suggests that there is a need to look beyond alcohol advertising to other factors that increase consumption – including pricing, distribution, use of social media, and consumer co-creation of brand image. Keywords: attitude, behaviour, experience, perception, public health, responsibility, alcohol

Mental Health Consumers' Perceptions Of Receiving Recovery-Focused Services, Sarah Marshall, Lindsay G. Oades, Trevor P. Crowe

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Method: A self-report questionnaire was developed drawing on key aspects of the Collaborative Recovery Model (CRM) (responsibility, collaboration, autonomy, motivation, needs, goals, homework). Ninety-two adult consumers from metropolitan, regional and rural non-government organizations and public mental health services in eastern Australian states completed the questionnaire. Results: Consumers using services provided by CRM trained workers identified significant changes to service delivery in relation to frequency with which they were encouraged to take responsibility for their recovery, degree to which they collaborated with staff and the extent to which they were encouraged to complete homework activities to assist them to achieve their …

‘Natural’ Claims On Foods: A Review Of Regulations And A Pilot Study Of The Views Of Australian Consumers, P. G. Williams, J. Markoska, V. Chachay, Anne Mcmahon

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The term ‘natural’ is often used on food labels, but is unregulated in Australia, except for prohibitions on misleading and deceptive conduct in the Trade Practices Act. This pilot study aimed to review definitions and regulations of ‘natural’ in Australia and internationally; record the ingredients used in a sample of foods marketed as natural; and examine consumer expectations about which ingredients could suitably be labeled natural. A survey of food labels at 12 food outlets recorded ingredients commonly used in foods marketed as natural. Consumer expectations were examined with a questionnaire about 25 ‘natural’ food ingredients. One hundred and nineteen …

Australian Consumer Attitudes To Health Claim - Food Product Compatibility For Functional Foods, P. G. Williams, L. Ridges, M. Batterham, B. Ripper, M. C. Hung

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study with Australian consumers investigated how appealing different health claims combined with particular food carriers were to Australian consumers, and compared the results of a similar study with Dutch consumers. 149 shoppers considered up to 30 different food concepts, rating how ‘attractive’, ‘believable’, and ‘new and different’ they found each concept and their ‘intention to try’. Each variable was significantly related to intention to try (p<0.001) and together explained 56% of the intention score. Claims and carriers independently had a significant effect on ratings of attractiveness and intention to try but, unlike the Dutch study, the carrier was a more important predictor of intention to purchase than the claim. Implications for regulation of health claims for food are discussed.

Nutrient Function, Health And Related Claims On Packaged Australian Food Products - Prevalence And Compliance With Regulations, P. G. Williams, H. Yeatman, Leisa Ridges, A. Houston, J. Rafferty, A. Roesler, M. Sobierajski, B. Spratt

Peter Williams

Australia and New Zealand are currently reviewing the regulations governing nutrition function, health and related claims on foods. Health claims currently are not permitted on food labels, with one exception. The aim of this study was to describe the use of such claims on packaged food for sale in Australia (excluding nutrient content claims) prior to any changes to the regulations, and measure compliance with existing regulations. A survey was conducted of the labelling of 7850 products (including multiple pack sizes of individual foods) in 47 different food categories on sale in New South Wales in 2003. A total of …

Can Health Claims For Foods Help Consumers Choose Better Diets?, P. G. Williams

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Consumers are becoming health-conscious and most agree that eating healthily is a better way to manage illness than using medication. This has led to the increased acceptance and consumption of functional foods with health-promoting capabilities, demonstrated by impressive growth in sales world wide. Functional foods certainly have the potential to assist in disease management or reduction of risk and their use is being increasingly recommended in both medical and dietetic practice. There is an observed ‘push’ from food companies seeking out new markets and profit opportunities, with a concurrent market ‘pull’ from an educated, health-conscious consumer with a higher disposable …

Nutrient Function, Health And Related Claims On Packaged Australian Food Products - Prevalence And Compliance With Regulations, P. G. Williams, H. Yeatman, Leisa Ridges, A. Houston, J. Rafferty, A. Roesler, M. Sobierajski, B. Spratt

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Australia and New Zealand are currently reviewing the regulations governing nutrition function, health and related claims on foods. Health claims currently are not permitted on food labels, with one exception. The aim of this study was to describe the use of such claims on packaged food for sale in Australia (excluding nutrient content claims) prior to any changes to the regulations, and measure compliance with existing regulations. A survey was conducted of the labelling of 7850 products (including multiple pack sizes of individual foods) in 47 different food categories on sale in New South Wales in 2003. A total of …