title: Consumers' health risk-benefit perception of seafood and attitude toward the marine environment: Insights from five European countries.
abstract: This research classifies European consumers into segments based on their health risk-benefit perception related to seafood consumption. The profiling variables of these segments are seafood consumption frequency, general attitude toward consuming fish, confidence in control organizations, attitude toward the marine environment, environmental concern and socio-demographics. A web-based survey was performed in one western European country (Belgium), one northern European country (Ireland) and three southern European countries (Italy, Portugal and Spain), resulting in a total sample of 2824 participants. A cluster analysis was performed based on risk-benefit perception related to seafood and the profiles of the segments were determined by a robust 2-way ANOVA analysis accounting for country effects. Although this study confirms consumers' positive image of consuming seafood, gradients are found in health risk-benefit perception related to seafood consumption. Seafood consumption frequency is mainly determined by country-related traditions and habits related to seafood rather than by risk-benefit perceptions. Segments with a higher benefit perception, irrespective of their level of risk perception, show a more positive attitude toward consuming seafood and toward the marine environment; moreover, they report a higher concern about the marine environment and have a higher involvement with seafood and with the marine environment. Consequently, information campaigns concentrating on pro-environmental behavior are recommended to raise the involvement with seafood and the marine environment as this is associated with a higher environmental concern. This research underpins that in such information campaigns a nationally differentiated rather than a pan-European or international information strategy should be aimed for because of significant cultural differences between the identified segments.
authors: Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: silke.jacobs@ugent.be.
authors: Silke
authors: S
authors: Jacobs
authors: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Sioen
authors: Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Consumer and Sensory Research Institute, ul.Sienna 55/9, 00-820 Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Zuzanna
authors: Z
authors: Pieniak
authors: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Stefaan
authors: S
authors: De Henauw
authors: Division of Aquaculture and Upgrading, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, I.P. (IPMA, I.P.), Avenida de Brasilia, 1449-006 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Ana Luisa
authors: AL
authors: Maulvault
authors: AquaTT, PO BOX 8989, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors: Marieke
authors: M
authors: Reuver
authors: Aeiforia Srl, 29027 Gariga di Podenzano (PC), Italy.
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Fait
authors: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C./ Sant Llorenç, 21, 43201 Reus, Spain.
authors: German
authors: G
authors: Cano-Sancho
authors: Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Wim
authors: W
authors: Verbeke
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003256:Community Participation; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005518:Food Preferences; D059022:Food Safety; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017747:Seafood / Q000592:standards*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
keywords: Cluster analysis; Marine environment; Pro-environmental behavior; Risk–benefit perception; Seafood consumption