Swedish consumers’ cognitive approaches to nutrition claims and health claims

  • Eva Svederberg
  • Karin Wendin
Keywords: Nutrition claims, health claims, food labels, cognitive segmentations, Sweden

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Studies show frequent use of nutrition claims and health claims in consumers’ choice of food products. The aim of the present study was to investigate how consumers’ thoughts about these claims and food products are affected by various types of food-related experiences. Material and Methods: The data collection comprised 30 individual interviews among Swedish consumers aged 25 to 64 years. Results: The results indicated that participants who expressed special concern for their own and their families’ health were eager to find out the meaning of concepts and statements made. A lack of understanding and lack of credibility of concepts and expressions often caused suspicion of the product. However, in some cases this was counterbalanced by confidence in manufacturers, retailers, and/or the Swedish food legislation. Discussion and Conclusion: To achieve effective written communication of food products’ health-conducive properties on food labels, there is a need to consider the importance many consumers attach to understanding the meaning of concepts and expressions used and the importance of credibility in certain expressions. Consumers’ varying cognitive approaches are suggested as a basis for pre-tests of nutrition claims and health claims.

Keywords: nutrition claims; health claims; food labels; qualitative research interviews; cognitive segmentation; Sweden

(Published: 23 March 2011)

Citation: Food & Nutrition Research 2011. 55: 5929 - DOI: 10.3402/fnr.v55i0.5929

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Eva Svederberg

PhD, Senior lecturer
School of Teacher Education
Kristianstad University

 

Karin Wendin

PhD, Project Manager
SIK AB - Göteborg
University of Copenhagen, Dept of Food Science

Published
2011-03-23
How to Cite
Svederberg E., & Wendin K. (2011). Swedish consumers’ cognitive approaches to nutrition claims and health claims. Food & Nutrition Research. https://doi.org/10.3402/fnr.v55i0.5929
Section
Original Articles

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)