Consumer Perceptions and Food

This book is a timely overview of the various aspects of consumer perception related to food. This book explores consumer perceptions that are vital to marketers and often underlie the success or failure of products in the marketplace. Perception is the process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensations into a meaningful whole, and this book highlights how human perceptions are unique, highly subjective, and easily distorted. These perceptions are influenced by our senses—sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch—as well as our beliefs, emotions, opinions, and experiences. This book states that this is related to food, and perceptions are also guided by beliefs, thoughts, emotions, feelings, and opinions about, or preferences, expectations, and knowledge of, and the sensory experience, the fear, and the relationships built between the consumers and the food over time. This book aims to further the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms which determine individual responses to existing and emerging food issues. This book provides insights into consumer behaviour (e.g. consumer decision making, promoting behaviour change), factors influencing consumers’ food and meal choices, confidence in the safety of food, perception of health-related messages and food laws and regulations, sustainable and responsible consumer behaviour (e.g. food waste), acceptability of new food alternatives, innovations and technologies, integrating consumer insight and communication challenges in cross-functional communications in innovation processes. "Consumer Perceptions and Food" delves into how these perceptions shape consumer behavior, from decision-making and behavior change to meal choices and confidence in food safety. It explores the impact of health-related messages, food laws, and regulations, and examines the acceptability of new food alternatives and technologies. The book also addresses the importance of sustainable and responsible consumer behavior, including food waste and ethical consumption. Through a rich array of insights, this book provides a deep understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that drive individual responses to food issues. It emphasizes the importance of mindful eating—making conscious food choices that benefit our health, the environment, and the planet. This involves considering the origins of our food, its production methods, and the broader impacts of our choices on public health and ecosystems. This book is a call to action for consumers to rethink their relationship with food, fostering deeper connections and appreciation for sustainable practices and ethical consumption. It is a crucial step in the ongoing journey of shaping the future of food, guided by informed and mindful consumers.