Research on irradiated food status and consumer acceptance: A Chinese perspective
Abstract China is currently the world's largest producer of food irradiation. Despite the long‐standing (about 100 years) evidence supporting the safety of food irradiation, consumers’ acceptance of irradiated foods remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the development of food irradi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Food Science & Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3511 |
| _version_ | 1797688595763429376 |
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| author | Ke Wang Xinxin Pang Zhengkui Zeng Houhua Xiong Jifu Du Gang Li Isaac Kwasi Baidoo |
| author_facet | Ke Wang Xinxin Pang Zhengkui Zeng Houhua Xiong Jifu Du Gang Li Isaac Kwasi Baidoo |
| author_sort | Ke Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract China is currently the world's largest producer of food irradiation. Despite the long‐standing (about 100 years) evidence supporting the safety of food irradiation, consumers’ acceptance of irradiated foods remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the development of food irradiation in China and identify the barriers that keep consumers away from irradiated foods. This was accomplished by exploring the relevant policies of food irradiation, the size and distribution of irradiation facilities in China, and analyzing their relationships between consumer characteristics and the acceptance of irradiated food. To achieve these objectives, we conducted an online survey of participants from Hubei, China (N = 264). The results reveal that irradiation facilities are mainly distributed in large coastal cities such as the Bohai Bay, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Greater Bay Area. Furthermore, the study identified that consumer’ acceptance of irradiated food is directly related to their level of understanding. Approximately 22% of the sampled consumers reported that they would not accept that they have consumed irradiated food and most of them (41%) stated that they would not purchase irradiated food if they were aware of buying irradiated food. Specifically, consumers expressed discomfort with consuming irradiated food under unknown circumstances. This trend is more prevalent among female, low‐educated, and older consumers, with 40% of the sampled population indicating that they would not buy irradiated food. Given the strong correlation between knowledge and acceptance of irradiated foods, the study suggests that policy reform should prioritize enhancing the understanding of irradiated food, particularly among female, low‐educated, and older consumers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:33:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4cee0195b8cf42cfb98128cd5de3c20d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2048-7177 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:33:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Food Science & Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-4cee0195b8cf42cfb98128cd5de3c20d2023-09-11T13:25:12ZengWileyFood Science & Nutrition2048-71772023-09-011194964497410.1002/fsn3.3511Research on irradiated food status and consumer acceptance: A Chinese perspectiveKe Wang0Xinxin Pang1Zhengkui Zeng2Houhua Xiong3Jifu Du4Gang Li5Isaac Kwasi Baidoo6School of Nuclear Technology and Chemistry & Biology and Hubei Key Laboratory of Radiation Chemistry and Functional Materials Hubei University of Science and Technology Xianning ChinaChina Isotope & Radiation Corporation Beijing ChinaSchool of Nuclear Technology and Chemistry & Biology and Hubei Key Laboratory of Radiation Chemistry and Functional Materials Hubei University of Science and Technology Xianning ChinaSchool of Nuclear Technology and Chemistry & Biology and Hubei Key Laboratory of Radiation Chemistry and Functional Materials Hubei University of Science and Technology Xianning ChinaSchool of Nuclear Technology and Chemistry & Biology and Hubei Key Laboratory of Radiation Chemistry and Functional Materials Hubei University of Science and Technology Xianning ChinaCNNC High Energy Equipment (Tianjin) Co., Ltd Tianjin ChinaNuclear Reactors Research Centre National Nuclear Research Institute Legon GhanaAbstract China is currently the world's largest producer of food irradiation. Despite the long‐standing (about 100 years) evidence supporting the safety of food irradiation, consumers’ acceptance of irradiated foods remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the development of food irradiation in China and identify the barriers that keep consumers away from irradiated foods. This was accomplished by exploring the relevant policies of food irradiation, the size and distribution of irradiation facilities in China, and analyzing their relationships between consumer characteristics and the acceptance of irradiated food. To achieve these objectives, we conducted an online survey of participants from Hubei, China (N = 264). The results reveal that irradiation facilities are mainly distributed in large coastal cities such as the Bohai Bay, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Greater Bay Area. Furthermore, the study identified that consumer’ acceptance of irradiated food is directly related to their level of understanding. Approximately 22% of the sampled consumers reported that they would not accept that they have consumed irradiated food and most of them (41%) stated that they would not purchase irradiated food if they were aware of buying irradiated food. Specifically, consumers expressed discomfort with consuming irradiated food under unknown circumstances. This trend is more prevalent among female, low‐educated, and older consumers, with 40% of the sampled population indicating that they would not buy irradiated food. Given the strong correlation between knowledge and acceptance of irradiated foods, the study suggests that policy reform should prioritize enhancing the understanding of irradiated food, particularly among female, low‐educated, and older consumers.https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3511acceptanceconsumer perceptionirradiation foodnuclear technology |
| spellingShingle | Ke Wang Xinxin Pang Zhengkui Zeng Houhua Xiong Jifu Du Gang Li Isaac Kwasi Baidoo Research on irradiated food status and consumer acceptance: A Chinese perspective Food Science & Nutrition acceptance consumer perception irradiation food nuclear technology |
| title | Research on irradiated food status and consumer acceptance: A Chinese perspective |
| title_full | Research on irradiated food status and consumer acceptance: A Chinese perspective |
| title_fullStr | Research on irradiated food status and consumer acceptance: A Chinese perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research on irradiated food status and consumer acceptance: A Chinese perspective |
| title_short | Research on irradiated food status and consumer acceptance: A Chinese perspective |
| title_sort | research on irradiated food status and consumer acceptance a chinese perspective |
| topic | acceptance consumer perception irradiation food nuclear technology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3511 |
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