7 pages., Via online journal., Policy makers in the European Union are envisioning the introduction of a community farm animal welfare label which would allow consumers to align their consumption habits with their farm animal welfare preferences. For welfare labeling to be viable the market for livestock products produced to higher welfare standards has to be sufficiently segmented with consumers having sufficiently distinct and behaviourally consistent preferences. The present study investigates consumers’ preferences for meat produced to different welfare standards using a hypothetical welfare score. Data is obtained from a contingent valuation study carried out in Britain. The ordered prohbit model was estimated using Bayesian inference to obtain mean willingness to pay. We find decreasing marginal WTP as animal welfare levels increase and that people’s preferences for different levels of farm animal welfare are sufficiently differentiated making the introduction of a la belling scheme in the form of a certified rating system appear feasible.
10 pages., Online via UI electronic subscription., Researchers surveyed 423 students enrolled in agriculture, business, and communication design courses at two universities, as well as Facebook users. Responses involving identified food recalls were analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis. Findings indicated that recall concern, propensity to reduce consumption beyond the recall parameters, and media reliance held strong, direct effects on broad consumption changes.
9 pages., Online via UI electronic subscription, Researchers reported on their analysis of a case of scandal concerning "set-style yogurt and jelly event" reporting by a micro-blog (i.e., we media) from "opinion leaders." Findings suggested that we media greatly increased dissemination of the voices of "opinion leaders" and triggered large-scale communication of food safety messaging to the public. "We media could be an effective tool to improve the food-safety status of the market."
Frewer, L.J. (author), Rowe, G. (author), Lassen, J. (author), Houghton, J.R. (author), Van Kleef, E. (author), Chryssochoidis, G. (author), Kehagia, O. (author), Korzen-Bohr, S. (author), Pfenning, U. (author), and Strada, A. (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2008-02
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C27264
10 pages., Online via UI electronic subscription, Results from analysis of a scale-adjusted stated preference technique (mostly best-worst scaling) showed considerable heterogeneity in consumers' perceptions of trust and choice variability related to use of nanotechnology in food production and packaging. Findings provided insights in the development of risk communication and management.
19 pages., Online via UI e-subscription., Authors tested food label and information treatment effects on subjects' willingness-to-pay for organic, "natural," and conventional foods. They found large information effects, including asymmetric cross-market effects for natural and organic foods. Organic premiums increased in response to subjects' seeing the "natural" foods industry's perspective on its products.