Factors Affecting Food Preferences and Their Association with Consumption—2nd Edition

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 February 2026 | Viewed by 151

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Life and Environmental Area, State University of Rio Grande do Sul, Encantado, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Interests: upcycled foods; consumers' behavior; sensory analysis; eco-innovation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Food acceptance and purchase intention behaviors are mediated by food-related attributes and consumer characteristics, which directly impact the food production chain. New ways of cooking and presenting foods with novel ingredients affect how consumers perceive and accept them. Presently, one cannot launch a product on the market without considering its characteristics; therefore, the study of consumer clustering (a priori using socio-demographic characteristics, or a posteriori by studying lifestyles, neophobia, etc.) is critical. Sensory and consumer sciences have advanced in recent decades. Understanding the factors that affect food preferences and their association with consumption are necessary for the development, production, and marketing of products. Therefore, we invite researchers to contribute to this Special Issue of Foods to share their knowledge and understanding of “Factors Affecting Food Preferences and Their Association with Consumption”.

Prof. Dr. Voltaire Sant'Anna
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • consumer behaviors
  • sensory acceptance
  • perception
  • consumer attitudes
  • sensory science

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 1512 KB  
Article
Beetroot Powder as Natural Colorant in Fresh Pork Sausages: Impacts on Consumer Liking, Emotional Responses, and Identification of Purchasing Drivers
by Rafaela Willig, Karla Joseane Perez, Lilian Raquel Hickert, Elson Rogerio Tavares Filho, Adriano Gomes da Cruz and Voltaire Sant’Anna
Foods 2025, 14(21), 3715; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14213715 (registering DOI) - 30 Oct 2025
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of beetroot powder in nitrite-reduced fresh sausages on consumers’ (n = 91) liking, purchase intention, and emotional responses. BP was incorporated into fresh sausage formulations at levels of 3.4 g/kg, [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of beetroot powder in nitrite-reduced fresh sausages on consumers’ (n = 91) liking, purchase intention, and emotional responses. BP was incorporated into fresh sausage formulations at levels of 3.4 g/kg, 6.8 g/kg, and 10.2 g/kg, alongside a control group without BP. Overall liking was significantly higher for fresh sausages containing BP, regardless of concentration, with color and flavor liking also enhanced by BP addition. Consumer purchasing drivers were identified through the sentence completion method, revealing health benefits and naturalness as the main motivators for purchase. Participants classified as health-oriented showed a greater liking for the samples compared with other consumers, highlighting the impact of health-related factors on purchase intention and emotional responses. In general, health-oriented consumers presented a lower frequency of citations of positive emotions. On average, 63% of participants indicated a willingness to pay approximately 40% more per kilogram for sausages formulated with BP instead of conventional curing salts. In conclusion, BP proved to be an interesting alternative for low/reduced-nitrite/nitrate fresh sausages that appeal to health-conscious consumers. Full article
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