Does Production Labeling Stigmatize Conventional Milk?

Production labeling is a common approach for differentiating otherwise similar products in the marketplace. While these labels may convey positive messages to consumers about the new product, they may simultaneously stigmatize the conventionally produced product by highlighting perceived problems. The net economic result for producers can be negative since consumers may decrease their willingness to pay for the conventional product that dominates the market, while the new product has a relatively small market share. This experimental research identifies this stigma effect in the case of milk, where the introduction of rBST-free and organic milk reduces consumers' willingness to purchase conventional milk.     

采用图像处理的跳频信号参数盲估计

针对短波复杂信道环境下的跳频信号参数估计问题,提出了一种基于图像处理的跳频信号参数盲估计算法。该算法在时频分析的基础上采用灰度共生矩阵提取信号的纹理特征,通过对纹理特征量的分割实现信号与背景噪声的分割,并运用形态学滤波去除二值化后产生的椒盐噪声;然后根据连通区域标记得到的各个信号在时频图中的位置信息来聚类,从而去除定频、突发等干扰信号,分选出跳频信号;最后根据分选出的跳频信号提取其跳频频线并进行修正,估计出跳频信号的跳周期、跳变时刻和跳频频率。仿真实验表明,该算法切实有效,能够在较低的信噪比条件下精确地估计出跳频信号的参数。     

3T0R类圆钢端面贴标混联机构构型优选

为保证用于圆钢端面贴标的工业机器人的设计质量,根据成捆圆钢端面贴标的工程应用场景,采用模糊综合评价法及层次分析法对尺度不确定的候选机构进行比较优选。以备选方案为基础建立模糊综合评价决策集,分析贴标工作及机构学相关知识,建立模糊综合评价因素集,比较各因素的重要性程度建立评价指标权重集,依据层次分析法对各评价指标建立模糊评判矩阵,由权重集及评判矩阵得到模糊决策集并对各方案进行排序优选,综合评价结果为RRP4RR RRRP4RRRRRRR。圆钢端面贴标混联机构可采用RRP4RR并联机构串接RR串联机构,所应用的模糊综合评价法可为贴标机构构型的优选提供决策依据。     

When dessert comes close: The effects of anticipating indulgent consumption and dietary restraint on healthy food preference at restaurants

When dining in restaurants, diners often anticipate indulgent consumption, such as enjoying a dessert. This study examined the effects of anticipating such indulgence on preferences for healthy food among restrained and unrestrained eaters. Two experiments revealed that anticipating indulgent consumption reduced restrained eaters’ preference for the immediate consumption of healthy food. Conversely, unrestrained eaters’ expectation of indulgent consumption increased or did not change their preference for a healthy option. The interactive effect of indulgence anticipation and dietary restraint on healthy food preference held regardless of availability of nutrition information. The findings suggest that, despite increasing concern for healthy eating, restrained consumers ironically show a preference for unhealthy food options when anticipating a dessert consumption opportunity. The present study provides theoretical implications for consumption anticipation, sequential consumption, and dietary restraint, and practical implications for restaurateurs as well as for consumers, health professionals, and policymakers regarding healthy eating.     

Shopper Response to Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling Programs: Potential Consumer and Retail Store Benefits

A myriad of front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling systems have been developed by both food retailers (e.g., Walmart, Safeway, Hannaford) and manufacturers (e.g., Kellogg's, General Mills) to help consumers identify more healthful options at the point-of-purchase. Given the uniqueness of these different approaches, two studies examine the effects of alternative FOP systems on shoppers’ product evaluations, choices, and retailer evaluations. When a single food item is evaluated in isolation, both the reductive and evaluative systems had a positive effect on product evaluations. However, when several choice options are presented simultaneously in a realistic retail environment, the evaluative (reductive) system has a stronger (weaker) influence on product evaluation and choice. Results also show that FOP nutrition labeling systems have both direct and moderating effects on attitude toward the retailer and perceived retailer concern for shoppers. These retailer-related outcomes, in turn, mediate the effects of the labeling system on shoppers’ intentions to patronize the retailer. Results suggest that FOP nutrition labeling may help retailers build a non-price competitive advantage.     

Perceived Motives,Barriers and Role of Labeling Information on Tropical Fruit Consumption: Exploratory Findings

This article reports findings from an exploratory study about tropical fruit consumption in Belgium. The aim of this study is to identify motives and barriers for the consumption of fresh tropical fruits and their juices. Also the potential role of labeling information, more specifically process-related quality labeling for fresh tropical fruits, and on-label nutrition and health claims for tropical fruit juices, are investigated. This study indicates that pleasure-seeking and hedonism motives are major drivers, whereas high perceived price and unfamiliarity form the most prominent barriers for consuming tropical fruit and tropical fruit juices. Process-related quality labels are considered credible and persuasive, but the expected price premium hampers the purchase of process-certified tropical fruit products. Health and nutrition claims on tropical fruit juices are not believed to be persuasive unless they match well with the perceived naturalness of the juices.     

Why U.S. Consumers Support Country of Origin Labeling: Examining the Impact of Ethnocentrism and Food Safety

ABSTRACT

The legality of U.S. country of origin labeling (COOL) laws for agricultural products has been challenged by foreign countries. Isolating the reasons why consumers support COOL can help determine the efficiency of COOL as a policy. Therefore, this study investigated why consumers have a desire for COOL. Data were collected through an online survey with 566 U.S. participants. Results of a bivariate ordered probit model indicate that as consumers are more ethnocentric and more pessimistic about the safety of their food, they are more likely to support COOL for sugar and for sugar in soft drinks. Thus, policies designed to inform the public about the safety of foreign commodities could reduce their desire for COOL. Evidence is also provided that highly ethnocentric individuals support COOL in an effort to “buy American” products.     

Health and Environmental Consciousness

Abstract

A serious diversification of Greek consumers' food buying behavior can be observed during the last decade. Following similar trends worldwide, an important percentage of Greek consumers have been oriented to quality food products of higher added value. This value is delivered through the implementation of various certification strategies and the use of different communication messages. A study of the procedure through which Greek consumers evaluate a variety of quality certification schemes is, hence, necessary and valuable. In the present survey, a stratified sample of urban consumers is used with the objective to analyze their attitudes toward the organic label and the HACCP and ISO14000 certification schemes separately. The study evolves around the assumption that purchasing of organic, HACCP or ISO14000-certified food products expresses consumers' health and environmental consciousness and reflects the food industry's ethical concern.     

Transparency in the food aisle: the influence of procedural justice on views about labeling GM foods

Issues of transparency lay at the center of the debate surrounding the labeling of genetically modified (GM) food products in the USA. These issues include not only the argument that consumers should be allowed to make purchasing choices based on full disclosure of product ingredients but also that they should have access to the process that makes decisions about labeling. This study examines the influence of procedural justice on perceived decision legitimacy and decision support regarding GM food labeling decisions. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, participants recruited from an online Qualtrics panel (N = 450) were randomly assigned to read a fictitious news article about an agricultural company’s decision about whether to label their food products as having GM ingredients. Articles varied by the company’s labeling decision (label versus no label) and whether the company listened to public input prior to making the decision (public input versus no public input). The results showed significant main effects on decision support and perceived legitimacy for articles that mentioned public input. Specifically, when participants read articles stating that the company made its decision after listening to public input, they were more supportive of the decision and perceived the decision as more legitimate. Moreover, this main effect occurred irrespective of whether or not the company’s decision was to label GM foods. Our results confirm the influence of procedural justice perceptions in fostering support and perceived legitimacy for controversial risk-related decisions.