Acceptance level referring to changes in market of animal-originating food products according to consumer opinion

Abstract

Polish consumers evince a low level of innovativeness as regards their food product choices since they purchase food products they know and which meet the diverse individual expectations. Thus, it may be presumed that the acceptance of innovative food products among consumers is also at a low level. In order to confirm this supposition, a field research study was conducted under the: "BIOFOOD - innovative, functional products of animal origin" Project. The quantitative omnibus-type survey was performed in June 2011 and comprised a survey sample of 1000 respondents representing the whole country (Poland). Based on the results obtained, it was confirmed that the Polish consumers recognized changes in the food market in Poland in recent years; however, they did not considered all of those changes to be beneficial, thus, the degree of their acceptance thereof varied. As regards food products of animal original, at the highest level of acceptance the consumers polled rated the changes involving the reduction in the content of some ingredients such as salt or sugar, whereas the consumers' lowest level of acceptance referred to milk and milk products enriched with vitamins and minerals. The survey results also confirmed that the younger consumers with university degrees and higher incomes, as well as those from larger cities declared a higher acceptance level of the majority of changes in the animal-originating food products.