How knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs impact dairy anti-consumption
ISSN: 0007-070X
Article publication date: 7 August 2018
Issue publication date: 20 September 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how individual’s health beliefs, nutrition knowledge (NK) and attitudes towards food technologies play a role in the anti-consumption of dairy products or the consumption of dairy alternatives.
Design/methodology/approach
Self-reported data concerning the consumption of milk, yogurt and dairy products in general were collected online among 1,705 adults in Canada. Also included in the survey instrument were measures of NK and health beliefs as well as questions from the food technology neophobia scale. Anti-consumption of milk, yogurt and dairy as well as alternative dairy consumption as a function of these characteristics, in addition to demographic characteristics, is analysed using probit models.
Findings
Individuals who demonstrate resistance to innovations in food technology, those with lower levels of dairy-specific NK, and people who have less belief that dairy avoidance will have negative impacts on their health are more likely to be anti-consumers of milk and/or yogurt. The same is true for dairy products in general with the exception that people with higher levels of dairy-specific NK are more likely to be anti-consumers of dairy products in general.
Originality/value
Inadequate intake of calcium and vitamin D has negative consequences for long-term health. Given that dairy products are the primary source of these nutrients in the Canadian diet, it is important to understand the reasons behind dairy anti-consumption so that appropriate policy measures can be taken to address potential public health issues.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Canadian Dairy Commission and the Food and Health Innovation Initiative (Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta) for financial support.
Citation
Allen, S., Goddard, E. and Farmer, A. (2018), "How knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs impact dairy anti-consumption", British Food Journal, Vol. 120 No. 10, pp. 2304-2316. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-12-2017-0733
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited