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Farmers

Consumers' Perception of Food Safety in Local and Small Farmers Market

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Consumers are increasingly concerned about the food they eat and how it is produced, particularly when it comes to purchasing fresh produce from local and small farmers. Research conducted in the North of Portugal aimed to understand consumers' awareness of food safety in fresh produce and their confidence in the products they consume. The study found that while the majority of consumers believed they had a general knowledge of food safety, there were significant gaps in their knowledge, particularly regarding the risks associated with consuming fresh produce.

Key Takeaways:

  • Only 25% of respondents admitted to having little knowledge about food safety, while 46.9% stated they had a good level of knowledge, and 25% replied that they knew a lot about it.
  • Fifty percent of consumers obtained information about food safety through self-education, and 36.4% through professional practice.
  • Seventy-six point seven percent of respondents did not believe that the products posed a risk to their health, and 16.7% said they did not know whether the products are hazardous or not.
  • The majority of consumers perceived that they have a general knowledge of food safety and believe that the fruit and vegetables they consume from small and local producers do not pose a risk to their health.
  • The question remains whether the information obtained through self-education and professional practice is sufficient to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.

Statistics:

  • 25% of respondents admitted to having little knowledge about food safety.
  • 46.9% of respondents stated they had a good level of knowledge about food safety.
  • 25% of respondents replied that they knew a lot about food safety.
  • 50% of consumers obtained information about food safety through self-education.
  • 36.4% of consumers obtained information about food safety through professional practice.
  • 76.7% of respondents did not believe that the products they consume posed a risk to their health.
  • 16.7% of respondents said they did not know whether the products are hazardous or not.
  • 50% of consumers have obtained information about food safety on an individual basis.

Sources:

  • A Case Study About the Perception of Food Safety in Consumers of Fresh Produce from Local and Small Farmers in the North of Portugal. Biology and Life Sciences Forum, 2024, 40(1):3.
  • MDPI AG. (Publisher of Biology and Life Sciences Forum)
  • https://doi.org/10.3390/blsf2024040003 (free version of the journal article)
  • Ariana Macieira, CBQF-Centro de Biotecnologia e Quimica Fina-Laboratorio Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal. (Contact for additional information)
  • Paula Teixeira. (Additional author for the research)

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