Food irradiation remains underutilized in Brazil, despite the approval and regulation of the official health authority since 1973. However, consumers risk perception, mostly due to lack of information about the technology, seem to be the main barrier to the adoption of food irradiation by the Brazilian industries, like in other countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of information on the acceptance and purchase intention of minimally processed and irradiated organic watercress (Nasturtium officinale). Consumers (N=236) participating in the sensory acceptance test were divided into four experimental groups according to an experimental design which combined presence or absence of information about the food irradiation process – main characteristics, benefits to food safety and preservation, cost-benefit and environmental issues - and identification or not of the i...

This study aimed to explore the perception and sensory acceptance of Purple Maize (PM) breakfast cereals by a Brazilian panel. The extrudates were elaborated using 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% PM in a commercial yellow corn base. A total of 117 consumers evaluated samples through an acceptability test (nine-point hedonic scale) followed by CATA questions (35 descriptive terms) and a market research questionnaire. The cereals formulated with 50% and 75% PM had the best scores (6) in color, aroma, texture, and overall liking during the acceptability test. Based on the penalty-lift analysis, Brazilian consumers' most important drivers of preference were the attractive color, crispy texture, and the natural and innovative purple color. In contrast, hard texture and brown color drivers negatively impacted the scores. In the market research, consumers indicated that they could eat the product both ...

This study aimed to explore the perception and sensory acceptance of Purple Maize (PM) breakfast cereals by a Brazilian panel. The extrudates were elaborated using 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% PM in a commercial yellow corn base. A total of 117 consumers evaluated samples through an acceptability test (nine-point hedonic scale) followed by CATA questions (35 descriptive terms) and a market research questionnaire. The cereals formulated with 50% and 75% PM had the best scores (6) in color, aroma, texture, and overall liking during the acceptability test. Based on the penalty-lift analysis, Brazilian consumers' most important drivers of preference were the attractive color, crispy texture, and the natural and innovative purple color. In contrast, hard texture and brown color drivers negatively impacted the scores. In the market research, consumers indicated that they could eat the product both ...