Kirsten Pronk, Bruno Etter, Fabienne Michel, Michael Siegrist
{"title":"Consumer acceptance of different protein sources for meat alternatives: A multinational study","authors":"Kirsten Pronk, Bruno Etter, Fabienne Michel, Michael Siegrist","doi":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108246","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A wide variety of alternative proteins have been proposed for use in meat alternatives; however, it is not known how their acceptance by consumers compares. In this study, the most promising protein sources for meat alternatives in terms of consumer acceptance were identified across four European countries. An online survey was conducted among meat-eating participants in Germany (<em>n</em> = 472), Finland (<em>n</em> = 495), Italy (<em>n</em> = 498), and Serbia (<em>n</em> = 488). The participants evaluated 14 different protein sources for meat alternatives, including a wide variety of plant-based proteins, algae, insects, and cultured meat, based on three dimensions: expected taste, expected healthiness, and expected environmental friendliness. In addition, the effect of food neophobia, meat commitment, and meat alternative rejection levels on the consumption of different types of meat alternatives was assessed. Potato, rice, and peas were identified as the most accepted protein sources across the four countries. The results also showed that consumers had low expectations for algae and cultured meat, and that insects were the least accepted. Furthermore, country-specific preferences for certain protein sources were observed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":242,"journal":{"name":"Appetite","volume":"215 ","pages":"Article 108246"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Appetite","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019566632500399X","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
A wide variety of alternative proteins have been proposed for use in meat alternatives; however, it is not known how their acceptance by consumers compares. In this study, the most promising protein sources for meat alternatives in terms of consumer acceptance were identified across four European countries. An online survey was conducted among meat-eating participants in Germany (n = 472), Finland (n = 495), Italy (n = 498), and Serbia (n = 488). The participants evaluated 14 different protein sources for meat alternatives, including a wide variety of plant-based proteins, algae, insects, and cultured meat, based on three dimensions: expected taste, expected healthiness, and expected environmental friendliness. In addition, the effect of food neophobia, meat commitment, and meat alternative rejection levels on the consumption of different types of meat alternatives was assessed. Potato, rice, and peas were identified as the most accepted protein sources across the four countries. The results also showed that consumers had low expectations for algae and cultured meat, and that insects were the least accepted. Furthermore, country-specific preferences for certain protein sources were observed.
期刊介绍:
Appetite is an international research journal specializing in cultural, social, psychological, sensory and physiological influences on the selection and intake of foods and drinks. It covers normal and disordered eating and drinking and welcomes studies of both human and non-human animal behaviour toward food. Appetite publishes research reports, reviews and commentaries. Thematic special issues appear regularly. From time to time the journal carries abstracts from professional meetings. Submissions to Appetite are expected to be based primarily on observations directly related to the selection and intake of foods and drinks; papers that are primarily focused on topics such as nutrition or obesity will not be considered unless they specifically make a novel scientific contribution to the understanding of appetite in line with the journal's aims and scope.