Sensory and Consumer Science Research Group, Postharvest Technology Center, Valencian Institute for Agricultural Research (IVIA), Carretera Moncada-Náquera, km. 4.5, 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain.
Sensory and Consumer Science Research Group, Postharvest Technology Center, Valencian Institute for Agricultural Research (IVIA), Carretera Moncada-Náquera, km. 4.5, 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain.
Food Res Int. 2021 Feb;140:110000. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.110000. Epub 2020 Dec 24.
In recent years, a decreasing trend in fruit consumption has been detected in Mediterranean countries, with the consequent risk for the population's health. The objective of this study was to obtain consumer knowledge that can be useful to promote fruit consumption by designing specific interventions. This study was conducted in Spain as its inhabitants have traditionally adhered to the Mediterranean diet. Firstly, four fresh fruit types were identified based on the consumer perception of the fruit characteristics that condition the eating process (fruit size, the need for cutlery to peel/eat fruit, and susceptibility to be spoiled during transportation). Then consumer perception of situational appropriateness of six different fruit types (the 4 types of fresh fruit previously identified, dehydrated non-traditional fruit (DF), and fresh-cut fruit ready to eat on the go (FCF)) was investigated by the Item-By-Use method using Check-All-That Apply (CATA) questions. The potential of DF and FCF to broaden fruit consumption situations, and barriers for their consumption, were evaluated. Fresh fruits, particularly 'easy-to-peel' ones like mandarins or bananas, were those preferred by consumers in most evaluated contexts. DF were considered mainly appropriate to be consumed 'As an ingredient' and 'As a healthy snack', while FCF were more suitable 'To be included in school lunchboxes' and 'To eat immediately'. According to our results, these two processed fruit types can help to increase the fruit consumption of a non-negligible percentage of the population (38% of participants), but it is necessary to overcome the barriers related mostly to sensory properties, plastic packaging and consumer misperception of fewer healthy properties compared to fresh fruit.
近年来，地中海国家的水果消费呈下降趋势，这对民众的健康构成了威胁。本研究旨在通过设计特定的干预措施，获取有助于促进水果消费的消费者知识。该研究在西班牙进行，因为其居民一直遵循地中海饮食。首先，根据消费者对影响食用过程的水果特征的感知（水果大小、削皮/吃水果所需的餐具以及在运输过程中易变质的特性），确定了四种新鲜水果类型。然后，采用逐项选择法（CATA）通过“适用所有选项”（Check-All-That-Apply，CATA）问题调查了六种不同水果类型（之前确定的 4 种新鲜水果、脱水非传统水果（DF）和可即食的鲜切水果（FCF））在不同情况下的适宜性感知。评估了 DF 和 FCF 拓宽水果消费场景的潜力和消费障碍。在大多数评估情境中，消费者更喜欢新鲜水果，特别是易于剥皮的水果，如橘子或香蕉。DF 被认为主要适合作为“配料”和“健康零食”食用，而 FCF 则更适合“纳入学校午餐盒”和“立即食用”。根据我们的研究结果，这两种加工水果类型可以帮助增加相当一部分人群（38%的参与者）的水果消费，但需要克服与感官特性、塑料包装以及消费者对新鲜水果健康属性的误解有关的障碍。
