Search results for "consumer"
showing 10 items of 880 documents
Multihoming in the Market for Payment Media: Evidence from Young Finnish Consumers
2004
Tassa tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan sita, miksi jotkut kuluttajista kayttavat vain yhta maksuvalinetta ja toiset kuluttajat monia maksuvalineita maksaessaan paivittaisia ostoksiaan. Kayttamalla aineistoa nuorista suomalaisista kuluttajista loydamme, etta yksi tarkeimmista maksuvalineiden kayttoon vaikuttavista tekijoista on kuluttajien yleinen tietoisuus maksamiseen liittyvista kysymyksista. Instrumenttimuuttujaestimoinnit osoittavat, etta paremmin tietoiset kuluttajat kayttavat 1.2-1.3 kertaa useampaa maksuvalinetta kuin vahemman tietoiset kuluttajat. Koska monia uusia maksuvalineita kaytetaan usein aluksi olemassa olevien maksuvalineiden rinnalla, tuloksemme tukevat nakemysta, etta kuluttaj…
Dynamics of a minimal consumer network with bi -directional influence
2018
Abstract We study the dynamics of a model of interdependent consumer behavior defined by a family of two-dimensional noninvertible maps. This family belongs to a class of coupled logistic maps with different nonlinearity parameters and coupling terms that depend on one variable only. In our companion paper we considered the case of independent consumers as well as the case of uni-directionally connected consumers. The present paper aims at describing the dynamics in the case of a bi-directional connection. In particular, we investigate the bifurcation structure of the parameter plane associated with the strength of coupling between the consumers, focusing on the mechanisms of qualitative tr…
Touch, threats, and transactions: Pandemic influences on consumer responses and the mediating role of touch likelihood when shopping for fruits and v…
2022
The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced consumer behavior in numerous ways. Most of the public health measures have centered around minimizing social contact and physical touch. In the present study, we investigate the impact of such touch restrictions, introduced during the pandemic, on consumers’ shopping responses and payment preferences in the context of a perishable food category amenable to tactile evaluation (fresh fruits and vegetables). The study used a single-factor between-subjects design (during vs. before the COVID-19 pandemic), with the data collected in a scenario-based online experiment from a sample of 729 participants. The results revealed significantly less favorable shoppin…
Opening the black box of food quality in the short supply chain: Effects of conventions of quality on consumer choice
2015
In recent years new forms of food distribution organisation, known as short supply chains, have gained ground. The local nature of such distribution has positive effects on the environment and on the local economy. Consumers appear to trust the short supply chain, and it has achieved considerable success. However, the short supply chain has credence characteristics which, by their very nature, cannot be identified through a system of certification. The question we address in this paper is whether it is possible to identify the constituent elements of the credence trait in relation to food quality in the short supply chain. Our hypothesis is that the latter are linked to a range of socially …
Food labels: Do consumers perceive what semiotics want to convey?
2011
In this research work, a multidisciplinary approach was applied to answer the question: do consumers perceive what semiotics want to convey? The idea behind was to determine if consumers' expectations and associations raised by simulated yogurt labels, designed with different sign combinations frequently applied in commercial products, were in agreement with results from a semiotic analysis, and to check for cultural differences, comparing results from two Spanish-speaking countries (Spain and Uruguay).A survey of the plain yogurt market was performed, followed by a semiotic analysis of the gathered labels performed by a team of semiotics experts. Only the non-verbal elements such as images…
Mycobiota and mycotoxin producing fungi from cocoa beans.
2008
The present study reports on the natural mycobiota occurring in cocoa beans, paying special attention to the incidence of fungal species that are potential producers of mycotoxins. The results show that predominant fungi were different species of the genus Aspergillus belonging to section Flavi and Nigri. Of the 214 strains of Aspergillus section Flavi collected from cocoa beans, 120 were identified as A. flavus and 94 as A. tamarii. Of Aspergillus section Nigri 138 strains were isolated, with 132 belonging to A. niger aggregate and 6 to A. carbonarius species. Potential ability to produce aflatoxins (AFs) B1, B2, G1 and G2, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) and ochratoxin A (OTA) was studied by iso…
Predominant mycotoxins, mycotoxigenic fungi and climate change related to wine
2017
Wine is a significant contributor to the economies of many countries. However, the commodity can become contaminated with mycotoxins produced by certain fungi. Most information on mycotoxins in wine is from Spain, Italy and France. Grapes can be infected by mycotoxigenic fungi, of which Aspergillus carbonarius producing ochratoxin A (OTA) is of highest concern. Climate is the most important factor in determining contamination once the fungi are established, with high temperatures being a major factor for OTA contamination: OTA in wine is at higher concentrations in warmer southern Europe than northern. Contamination by fumonisins is a particular concern, related to Aspergillus niger produci…
Ochratoxin A in rice on the Moroccan retail market
2008
One hundred (100) samples of rice purchased from retail markets in five different cities (Rabat, Témara, Salé, Casablanca and Méknès) in Morocco from January to October 2006 were surveyed for the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) using Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) coupled to liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The identification of OTA in positive rice samples was confirmed by methyl ester derivatization. Analytical results showed a frequency of contamination of 26% of total analyzed rice samples. The percentage of contamination of samples was 24, 26.6, 16.6, 27.7 and 30% in Rabat, Témara, Méknès, Salé and Casablanca respectively. Levels of OTA in positive samples ranged…
Occurrence and daily intake of ochratoxin A of organic and non-organic rice and rice products
2005
Abstract Ochratoxin A (OTA) was extracted from 84 rice samples and rice products by using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and analysed with liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection. Samples were collected from rice cultivars, local markets and supermarkets; 64 were of non-organic and 20 of organic production. 7.8% of non-organic samples had OTA levels from 4.3 to 27.3 μg/kg and in 30% of organic samples was detected the presence of this mycotoxin varying from 1.0 to 7.1 μg/kg. OTA presence was confirmed by methyl-ester derivatization. Rice and rice products labelled with denomination of origin (DO) were not detected OTA due to the fact that its production has implement…
An overview of ochratoxin A in beer and wine.
2007
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced mainly by several fungal species of the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. This mycotoxin has been shown to be nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, teratogenic and carcinogenic to animals and has been classified as a possible carcinogen to humans. OTA occurs in a variety of foods, including beer and wine. Reports on OTA occurrence in beer indicate that this is a worldwide problem due to the widespread consumption of this beverage. At present, the European Union (EU) has not set a maximum allowable limit (MAL) for this mycotoxin in beer, although there is a limit in barley and malt. Studies carried out in different countries agree in the high proportion of sa…