title: European consumer attitudes on the associated health benefits of neutraceutical-containing processed meats using Co-enzyme Q10 as a sample functional ingredient.
abstract: This study accumulated European consumer attitudes towards processed meats and their use as a functional food. A survey was set up using an online web-application to gather information on consumer perception of processed meats as well as neutraceutical-containing processed meats. 548 responses were obtained and statistical analysis was carried out using a statistical software package. Data was summarized as frequencies for each question and statistical differences analyzed using the Chi-Square statistical test with a significance level of 5% (P<0.05). The majority of consumer attitudes towards processed meat indicate that they are unhealthy products. Most believe that processed meats contain large quantities of harmful chemicals, fat and salt. Consumers were found to be very pro-bioactive compounds in yogurt style products but unsure of their feelings in meat based products, which is likely due to the lack of familiarity to these products. Many of the respondents were willing to consume meat based functional foods but were not willing to pay more for them.
authors.affiliation: Food Packaging Group, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Tobin
authors.affiliation: Food Packaging Group, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Maurice G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Ashtown Food Research Centre, Teagasc, Ashtown, Castleknock, Dublin 15, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamill
authors.affiliation: Food Packaging Group, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: joe.kerry@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kerry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D019648:Foods, Specialized; D055951:Functional Food; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008461:Meat Products; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10
keywords: Co-enzyme Q10; Consumer; Health; Processed meat; Survey