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A survey of Canadian consumer perceptions of beef in relation to general perceptions regarding foods
Author(s) -
JEREMIAH L. E.,
TONG A. K. W.,
JONES S. D. M.,
McDONELL C.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of consumer studies and home economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.775
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1470-6431
pISSN - 0309-3891
DOI - 10.1111/j.1470-6431.1993.tb00151.x
Subject(s) - purchasing , consumption (sociology) , business , perception , quality (philosophy) , agriculture , marketing , agricultural science , agricultural economics , advertising , geography , psychology , economics , social science , philosophy , environmental science , archaeology , epistemology , neuroscience , sociology
Approximately 250 consumers were interviewed in each of three Canadian provinces Nearly all of the consumers interviewed expressed concerns about environmental issues, and a majority expressed strong concerns about such matters. A majority interviewed also felt agriculture and farming had an impact on the environment, and over one‐fourth (29–88%) believed modern beef production had an environmental impact. It was also evident that concern over environmental issues has influenced purchasing decisions and consumption patterns. A majority of the consumers interviewed also had concerns regarding the safety and wholesomeness of certain foodstuffs. However, 30·71% of the consumers interviewed considered beef to be an extremely safe and wholesome food and 38·03% indicated that this perception had influenced their purchasing habits and beef consumption. Over three fourths (75·7%) of the consumers interviewed expressed some concern regarding the Canadian meat inspection system. However, much of this concern was dispelled through provision of factual information. Although the quality of beef currently available is generally regarded as acceptable, a significant portion is regarded as unacceptable primarily as a result of toughness. Significant portions of the Canadian consumers interviewed perceived beef quality to have either improved or deteriorated during the past decade, and nearly half of these consumers indicated that these perceived changes had influenced their beef buying and consumption patterns.