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Perceived Consequences: General or Specific? The Case of Palm Oil-Free Products

Author

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  • Brigitta Plasek

    (Department of Food Chain Management, Institute of Economic Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 1118 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Zoltán Lakner

    (Department of Food Chain Management, Institute of Economic Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 1118 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Katalin Badak-Kerti

    (Institute of Food Science and Technology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 1118 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Anikó Kovács

    (Institute of Food Science and Technology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 1118 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Ágoston Temesi

    (Department of Food Chain Management, Institute of Economic Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 1118 Budapest, Hungary)

Abstract

Palm oil production and consumption involve several consequences, the perception of which are significant factors that influence consumer behavior. The aim of our research is to explore which health, environmental, or social consequences associated with palm oil influence consumers most in their behavior to avoid palm oil. We examined the three risk types from two approaches: from the viewpoint of generally perceived consequences, and the viewpoint of consequences perceived specifically in relation to palm oil. We collected data through an online consumer survey ( n = 336), and we applied the method of structural equation modeling to achieve our research aim. According to our results, depending on the approach, all three consequence types influence consumer purchase intentions. Of them, the perceived effects of palm oil on health have the strongest influence on consumption intent, followed by environmental damage caused by palm oil production. The effect of general health consequences show indirect significance through information seeking, which also indicates the importance of the approach to consequence perception. Indirectly or directly, only general social consequences influence purchase intent. Our research suggests that companies developing palm oil-free products could benefit from a label on the product stating their palm oil-free nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Brigitta Plasek & Zoltán Lakner & Katalin Badak-Kerti & Anikó Kovács & Ágoston Temesi, 2021. "Perceived Consequences: General or Specific? The Case of Palm Oil-Free Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3550-:d:522502
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nurul Atiqah binti Mohd Suib & Norlida Hanim Mohd Salleh & Md Shafiin Shukor & Norshamliza Chamhuri & Shahida Shahimi & Kamalrudin Mohamed Salleh & Khairuman Hashim, 2023. "The Influence of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) on the Productivity and Well-Being of Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO)-Certified Independent Smallholders in Malaysia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Brigitta Plasek & Zoltán Lakner & Ágoston Temesi, 2022. "Environmental, Health or Social Impacts? Investigating Ethical Food Consumption Behavior in the Case of Palm Oil-Free Foods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-12, August.
    3. Oliver Meixner & Petra Riefler & Karin Schanes, 2021. "Sustainable Consumer Behavior and Food Marketing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-4, November.

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