Genuine and natural: the opinion of teen consumers


https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2017.6183
Vol. 6 No. 1 (2017)
Submitted: 20 July 2016
Accepted: 13 January 2017
Published: 9 February 2017
Knowledge, Food, Culture, Youngsters, Perception
Abstract Views: 1255
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Authors

  • Stefania Balzan
    stefania.balzan@unipd.it
    Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro (PD), Italy.
  • Luca Fasolato Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro (PD), Italy.
  • Barbara Cardazzo Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro (PD), Italy.
  • Cristiana Penon Hygiene of Food of Animal Origin Service, Local Health Unit 8 Berica, Vicenza, Italy.
  • Enrico Novelli Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro (PD), Italy.
Food packaging frequently reports the terms natural, 100% natural or similar. Often these indications induce consumers to purchase those products that are considered healthier and fresher. The overall goal of this study was to assess what teen consumers perceive to be genuine and natural foods. A questionnaire was distributed to the students of some high schools (lyceum, technical and professional institutes). It was completed by 349 females and 314 males, with an average age of 17.6 years. Respondents are quite interested in the information on recipes, diet, beauty and food safety; websites were important information retrieval tools. Genuine food is defined mainly as fruits and vegetables, home-made and salubrious, with less or without fat and that is good for health. Meanwhile, natural is demarcated primarily by the absence of additives and manipulation or treatments (negative impact). Also fruits and vegetables and organic production are associated to natural. The existence of a natural food preference is well described and the presence on food label may cause a wrong perception of healthfulness.

1.
Balzan S, Fasolato L, Cardazzo B, Penon C, Novelli E. Genuine and natural: the opinion of teen consumers. Ital J Food Safety [Internet]. 2017 Feb. 9 [cited 2024 Apr. 16];6(1). Available from: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ijfs/article/view/6183

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