Examining sensory attributes affecting consumption of functional foods represents the main objective of this paper. For this purpose, in the framework of a non-hypothetical economic survey conducted in July 2015 on a sample of 156 consumers in Catania, Sicily (Italy), we carried out a consumer test to evaluate how consumers rate two sensory attributes that is taste and appearance when they consume functional foods. Then, we correlated the results of the sensory test with willingness to pay (WTP) obtained from the economic analysis. The findings of this study have showed that the willingness to pay for a new functional snack, produced as part of a multidisciplinary research project co-funded by the Government of Sicily (Italy) and the European Commission, depends on specific consumption’s determinants that include both socio-demographic characteristics like level of education and some sensory attributes such as appearance and taste. Consumer’s willingness to pay for the above new functional snack can significantly vary in function of the aforementioned variables.

How sensory attributes affect consuption of functional food? Evidences from a consumer test in Sicily

PECORINO, Biagio;
2016-01-01

Abstract

Examining sensory attributes affecting consumption of functional foods represents the main objective of this paper. For this purpose, in the framework of a non-hypothetical economic survey conducted in July 2015 on a sample of 156 consumers in Catania, Sicily (Italy), we carried out a consumer test to evaluate how consumers rate two sensory attributes that is taste and appearance when they consume functional foods. Then, we correlated the results of the sensory test with willingness to pay (WTP) obtained from the economic analysis. The findings of this study have showed that the willingness to pay for a new functional snack, produced as part of a multidisciplinary research project co-funded by the Government of Sicily (Italy) and the European Commission, depends on specific consumption’s determinants that include both socio-demographic characteristics like level of education and some sensory attributes such as appearance and taste. Consumer’s willingness to pay for the above new functional snack can significantly vary in function of the aforementioned variables.
2016
Sensory attributes; Willingness to pay; Functional foods
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/20165
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