title: Functional food awareness and perceptions in relation to information sources in older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The functional food industry has experienced innovative and economic expansion, yet research into consumer perceptions of functional foods and their associated health claims is limited. Among consumers, older adults could benefit from functional foods due to age-related issues pertaining to food and health. The purpose of this research was to identify the need for information related to functional foods among older adults (≥60 years old) and to assess awareness and perceptions of health claims on functional food packages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-dwelling older adults (n = 200) completed a researcher administered questionnaire designed to collect information about functional foods including current consumption, motivating factors for consumption, perceived need for information, sources of information for functional foods and awareness of health claims.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of functional food consumption among participants was 93.0%. Increased awareness and knowledge was the most commonly reported factor that would promote functional food consumption (85.5%) and 63.5% of participants wanted more information about functional foods with preferred sources being newspapers/magazines/books (68.5%) and food labels (66.1%). Participants were predominately (93.5%) aware of health claims on functional foods and those with more education were more likely to report being aware of health claims (p = 0.045).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although functional food consumption among older adults in this sample is high, there is a need for further information regarding functional foods. These results inform stakeholders regarding the potential for information to influence functional food acceptance among older adult consumers.
authors.forename: Meagan N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Stratton
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheeshka
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1. amduncan@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D005515:Food Labeling; D058870:Food, Organic; D055951:Functional Food; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires