Water quality concerns and acceptance of irradiated food: a pilot study on Mexican consumers.
BACKGROUND
Poor quality irrigation water is a major cause of disease transmission for urban inhabitants consuming fresh produce in many developing countries. Irradiation of food is an alternative approach to reducing health risks for consumers, but its implementation depends heavily on consumer acceptance.


RESULTS
In this pilot study, we show that most respondents consider the water quality of Mexico City to be poor and a health risk, and would be willing to pay for irradiated food as a means of pasteurizing fresh iceberg lettuce.


CONCLUSIONS
Irradiated food could, potentially, be accepted in developing countries that have problems with water quality. Such acceptance would presumably be due to the perception that such a novel technology would (1) alleviate water impairment, and (2) lead to economic improvement. It is then possible that the public considers that water quality is a more pressing concern than any potential side effects of food irradiation.
Ibarra
Alonso Aguilar
AA
Instituto de Investigaciones Economicas, UNAM, Circuito Mario de la Cueva, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City DF 04510, Mexico. aaibarra@unam.mx
Vargas
Armando Sanchez
AS
Nayga
Rodolfo M
RM
D001290:Attitude; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005514:Food Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D005515:Food Labeling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005518:Food Preferences; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D018545:Lactuca / Q000382:microbiology; D008800:Mexico; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014881:Water Supply / Q000191:economics