title: The effect of technology information on consumer expectations and liking of beef.
abstract: European consumers increasingly attach value to process characteristics of food. Although beef technologies are hardly communicated to consumers, providing consumer-oriented information about technology application might increase perceived transparency and consumer acceptance. This study investigates how information about beef technologies influences consumer expectations and liking of beef. Beef consumers in Belgium (n = 108) and Norway (n = 110) participated in an information experiment combined with sensory testing in which each consumer tasted three beef muscles treated with different technologies: unprocessed tenderloin M. Psoas major, muscle profiled M. Infraspinatus, and marinated (by injection) M. Semitendinosus. The findings indicate that detailed information about beef technologies can enhance consumers' expectations and liking of beef. However, this effect differs between countries and beef technologies. Information becomes either less relevant when the product is actually tasted, as indicated by the findings in Norway, or more relevant when information is confirmed by own experience during tasting, as indicated by the findings in Belgium.
authors: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. nixb@fvst.dk
authors: Lynn
authors: L
authors: Van Wezemael
authors: Øydis
authors: Ø
authors: Ueland
authors: Rune
authors: R
authors: Rødbotten
authors: Stefaan
authors: S
authors: De Smet
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Scholderer
authors: Wim
authors: W
authors: Verbeke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium; D002417:Cattle; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D005518:Food Preferences; D005524:Food Technology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D009664:Norway; D013649:Taste; D055815:Young Adult