Attitudes toward food fraud

What is it about?

This study provides an important examination of the factors that may influence consumers' attitudes towards food fraud. This research addressed gender, three types of food fraud (food spraying fraud/ organic food fraud / kosher food fraud), and a comparison between German and Israeli samples. One of the most intriguing findings in our research refers to the nature of interaction between country of residence and type of food fraud. It appears that in case of food spraying fraud that may cause health related damages (such as food spraying fraud) there were no significant differences between German and Israeli participants, however Germans perceived organic food fraud as more negative and kosher food fraud as less negative than Israelis. The findings also showed that there are significant gender differences in perception of food fraud, and women's attitudes toward food fraud are more negative than men's. Furthermore, there is an interaction between gender and type of food fraud. Our results open a new and significant direction in research on the relationship between culture and consumers' perception of crimes within the food sector. Also, from the theoretical point of view, this research contributes to the literature by differentiating between those types of food fraud that arise gender and cultural differences and those types of food fraud that are characterized by consensus.

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Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The results open a new and significant direction in research on the relationship between culture and consumers' perception of crimes within the food sector. Also, from the theoretical point of view, this research contributes to the literature by differentiating between those types of food fraud that arise gender and cultural differences and those types of food fraud that are characterized by consensus. The results of this research also have practical implications for policy makers and practitioners responsible for ensuring consumers' safety and prevention and treatment of food fraud related victimization.

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