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“They Just Say Organic Food Is Healthier”: Perceptions of Healthy Food among Supermarket Shoppers in S outhwest B altimore
Author(s) -
Rodman Sarah O.,
Palmer Anne M.,
Zachary Drew A.,
Hopkins Laura C.,
Surkan Pamela J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
culture, agriculture, food and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.308
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2153-9561
pISSN - 2153-9553
DOI - 10.1111/cuag.12036
Subject(s) - perception , healthy food , psychology , environmental health , healthy eating , novel food , marketing , medicine , food science , business , physical activity , neuroscience , pathology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , chemistry
Abstract To discover how organic food factors into low‐income consumers’ overall understanding of healthy eating, we analyzed 36 in‐depth interviews with adults in B altimore, M aryland. We asked participants to discuss their understanding of healthy eating. Unprompted, many participants discussed organic food or attributes commonly understood to define organic food. Some participants believed health issues including cancer, weight gain, and allergies can arise from consuming nonorganic foods. Participants expressed that organic competes with other food attributes such as nutrient content in informing their perception of whether a food is healthy. Several voiced concern that nonorganic foods are responsible for weight gain and abnormal development. Our results show that despite limited access, organic is an important factor in some consumers’ understanding of healthy food. Consumers’ perceptions of organic can swamp or compete with other messages about healthy eating. Therefore, consumers’ understanding of organic should be considered in developing diet‐related messages and programs.