Browsing by Author "Weerawarna N.R.P. M"

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    Comparing traditional check-all-that-apply (CATA) and implicit response time Go/No-go approaches for profiling consumer emotional response when tasting food
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2023-12) Weerawarna N.R.P. M; Godfrey AJR; Loudon M; Foster M; Hort J
    Adapting implicit approaches to capture consumer responses when tasting foods is of recent interest in sensory and consumer science. Implicit consumer responses are reported to be more spontaneous than explicitly gathered data. Traditionally, emotional response to foods is captured using explicit methods like check-all-that-apply (CATA). The present study aimed to compare an implicit response time (IRT) Go/No-go approach with traditional CATA to profile consumer emotional responses. Participants (n = 104) were consumers of, or willing to consume, cow's milk and plant-based milk alternatives (PBMA). Emotional responses for two cow milk and five PBMA products were evaluated across two sessions using IRT and CATA. The cow milk products were replicated across the sessions to allow consistency of response across sessions to be evaluated for each method. Data were collected using a bespoke single page web application (JavaScript, ECMA 2015). Data consistency across sessions (Spearman correlation (ρ)), emotion selection frequency (ρ and generalised linear models) and product discrimination (linear mixed models and correspondence analysis) were compared across the IRT and CATA approaches. Results showed high data consistency from both IRT and CATA across the two sessions (ρ > 0.89). Emotion selection frequency was also comparable across IRT and CATA. Interestingly, CATA was differentiating more between cow's milk products and IRT within the PBMA space. However, further investigations showed that fewer participants provided different responses in CATA than when under time pressure in the IRT Go/No-go. Additional investigations on the performance of explicit versus implicit methods, or their combination, are required across different product matrices to identify the optimum approach to capture consumer product experience.
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    Motivators and barriers to plant-based product consumption across Aotearoa New Zealand flexitarians
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2024-08) Weerawarna N.R.P. M; Giezenaar C; Coetzee P; Godfrey AJR; Foster M; Hort J
    Limited knowledge exists concerning Aotearoa New Zealand (A-NZ) flexitarians and their respective motivators and barriers towards consumption of novel plant-based products (PBPs) heralded as aids for dietary meat reduction. This study aimed to determine if A-NZ flexitarians, who have tried novel PBPs, can be segmented based on different motivators and barriers to meat reduction and PBP consumption, if the consumer profile of the different segments varies according to identified gender, generation group, neophobia and meat and PBP consumption frequency. It also aimed to identify sensory characteristics novel PBPs need to possess to be attractive to A-NZ flexitarians and if these vary across segments. PBP-consuming flexitarians (n = 584), stratified according to age (Millennial/Gen X), identified gender and meat consumption frequency, completed an online survey regarding a) their level of agreement regarding statements related to factors driving PBP consumption and flexitarianism in general, and b) their satisfaction with the sensory experience of consuming current PBPs. ‘Tastes good’ was the top-rated factor for selecting PBPs for all consumers, but most were dissatisfied with the sensory characteristics of current PBPs. K-means cluster analysis identified three flexitarian segments based on similarities and differences in key motivations and barriers to consume PBPs. Attitudes and behaviours related to nutrition/health, and social status attained from eating both PBPs and meat products, accounted for most variation across the respondents. Overall, higher food neophobia was associated with higher PBP consumption, suggesting that neophobia itself is not necessarily a barrier to PBP consumption in A-NZ flexitarians. Improving the sensory profiles of PBPs whilst delivering nutritional requirements presented as key considerations for future product development and research. This research highlights the importance of understanding the distinct values, attitudes and behaviours of different flexitarian groups as opposed to generalised research aimed at flexitarians per se.