Is there a relation between consumer concerns in the food market, consumer behaviour and ideas ab... more Is there a relation between consumer concerns in the food market, consumer behaviour and ideas about the future of agriculture and food production? People express all kinds of concerns on the agricultural system; sometimes these concerns are – partly – translated into consumer behaviour directed at influencing the structure of the agricultural system. Sometimes pressure groups and NGO’s manage consumer behaviour as a political instrument. Animal friendly meat will not be produced if nobody consumes it. Transforming agriculture in a more sustainable direction needs consumer support. But consumers consume very little sustainable and animal friendly products. That is why government officials criticize consumers for their doubled standards: citizens want a change of agriculture while consumers only incidentally buy environmental and animal friendly products. This reproach seems not to be justified. We defend that the notion of responsible consumption should be taken as an ideal. In this notion two aspects of consuming are brought together: in consumption consumers signal a direction and at the same time they support transformation into that direction. Ideals, however, cannot be direct morally binding. They function as a perspective, a framework and if one recognizes an ideal, it is clear that one wants to live up to it. The policy impact of this ideal should be finding ways to stimulate consumers in recognizing this ideal and stimulate that it has a practical impact.
ABSTRACT Purpose - Food products developed using genetically modified (GM) animals may soon be in... more ABSTRACT Purpose - Food products developed using genetically modified (GM) animals may soon be introduced in Europe and beyond. Their successful commercialisation depends on consumer acceptance, and so it is timely to review the existing literature in this respect. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach - A systematic review identified 42 English language peer reviewed papers assessing public opinion of GM animals associated with food production. Thematic analysis was applied to the results to identify and explain consumer attitudes. Findings - Publication peaked in 2004, and declined thereafter. European consumers were less accepting of GM animal technology than the US and Asian consumers, although the latter reported more ethical concern. Risk and benefit perceptions, ethical concerns (e.g. related to animal welfare) may explain negative consumer attitudes towards animals in food production. Research limitations/implications - There is a lack of data on consumer attitudes to GM animals applied to food production, in particular in relation to consumers in emerging economies and developing countries. This is problematic as applications of GM animal products are about to enter the market. Practical implications - There is a need to track changes in public opinion as GM food production animals are further developed. The introduction and commercialisation of applications with specific characteristics may further shape consumer attitudes. Social implications - Methods need to be developed to involve consumers and other stakeholders in shaping future applications of agri-food applications of GM animals. Originality/value - The review collates existing quantitative and qualitative knowledge regarding the drivers of consumer attitudes towards GM animals used in food production using systematic review methodology.
Safe and efficient food production relies on the detection and monitoring of food characteristics... more Safe and efficient food production relies on the detection and monitoring of food characteristics, environment, processing, and contaminants at all stages in the food production chain. Nanotechnology not only has the potential to optimize existing and create new monitoring techniques at early food production stages, but also may be employed in nano-functionalized agricultural products such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to maximize productivity. The integration of nanotechnological techniques in primary food ...
Nanotechnologies promise to enable improvements in many sectors. One key promising area is in the... more Nanotechnologies promise to enable improvements in many sectors. One key promising area is in the diagnostics and sensing area, where a variety of nanotechnology platforms are being developed for application to land management, process diagnostics, quality control, and authenticity. This chapter gives an overview of some of the key areas of activity in nanotechnologies for improving food quality, safety, and security as identified through the research activities of the European Commission-funded ObservatoryNANO project. It ...
Risk governance is an important element that needs to be addressed following the development and ... more Risk governance is an important element that needs to be addressed following the development and identification of any new technology, including agri-food nanotechnology. Following a general introduction to the principles and components of the internationally ...
Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology, 2014
Double-blind placebo controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) is the gold standard diagnostic test in f... more Double-blind placebo controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) is the gold standard diagnostic test in food allergy because it minimizes diagnostic bias. To investigate the potential effect of diagnosis on the socioeconomic costs of food allergy. A prospective longitudinal cost analysis study was conducted in Spain and Poland within the EuroPrevall project. Food-allergic patients were enrolled into the study and in all cases diagnosis was confirmed through a standardized DBPCFC. Data were collected through a self-administered survey on all aspects of health and social care resource use, costs of living, and costs of leisure activities. Costs were measured before and 6 months after the DBPCFC and reported in international dollars with 2007 as the benchmark year. Forty-two patients were enrolled. Twenty-one patients had a negative DBPCFC and the suspected food was reintroduced into their diet. Comparing total direct costs before and after the DBPCFC, the reactive group spent a significantly ...
Although food allergy has universally been found to impair HRQL, studies have found significant d... more Although food allergy has universally been found to impair HRQL, studies have found significant differences in HRQL between countries, even when corrected for differences in perceived disease severity. However, little is known about factors other than disease severity which may contribute to HRQL in food-allergic patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify factors which may predict HRQL of food-allergic patients and also to investigate the specific impact of having experienced anaphylaxis and being prescribed an EAI on HRQL. A total of 648 European food-allergic patients (404 adults, 244 children) completed an age-specific questionnaire package including descriptive questions. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to develop models for predicting HRQL of these patients. For adults, the prediction model accounted for 62% of the variance in HRQL and included perceived disease severity, type of symptoms, having a fish or milk allergy, and gender. For children,...
Abstract:This paper investigates whether the implementation of traceability systems in line with ... more Abstract:This paper investigates whether the implementation of traceability systems in line with the European General Food Law as well as food labelling laws related to allergens can impact on consumer confidence in food quality and safety. It aims to give insight into consumer demands regarding food traceability, and how consumers perceive the role of traceability within the supply chain. Consumer
Vergroot traceerbaarheid het vertrouwen? Informatie moet bruikbaar zijn voor allergische consumen... more Vergroot traceerbaarheid het vertrouwen? Informatie moet bruikbaar zijn voor allergische consumenten EU-regelingen proberen het vertrouwen van consumenten in de kwaliteit en veiligheid van producten te verhogen. Bedrijven worden verplicht informatie over de herkomst van producten op het etiket te vermelden. Vooral consumenten met voedselallergieën zullen daarvan profiteren.
Is there a relation between consumer concerns in the food market, consumer behaviour and ideas ab... more Is there a relation between consumer concerns in the food market, consumer behaviour and ideas about the future of agriculture and food production? People express all kinds of concerns on the agricultural system; sometimes these concerns are – partly – translated into consumer behaviour directed at influencing the structure of the agricultural system. Sometimes pressure groups and NGO’s manage consumer behaviour as a political instrument. Animal friendly meat will not be produced if nobody consumes it. Transforming agriculture in a more sustainable direction needs consumer support. But consumers consume very little sustainable and animal friendly products. That is why government officials criticize consumers for their doubled standards: citizens want a change of agriculture while consumers only incidentally buy environmental and animal friendly products. This reproach seems not to be justified. We defend that the notion of responsible consumption should be taken as an ideal. In this notion two aspects of consuming are brought together: in consumption consumers signal a direction and at the same time they support transformation into that direction. Ideals, however, cannot be direct morally binding. They function as a perspective, a framework and if one recognizes an ideal, it is clear that one wants to live up to it. The policy impact of this ideal should be finding ways to stimulate consumers in recognizing this ideal and stimulate that it has a practical impact.
ABSTRACT Purpose - Food products developed using genetically modified (GM) animals may soon be in... more ABSTRACT Purpose - Food products developed using genetically modified (GM) animals may soon be introduced in Europe and beyond. Their successful commercialisation depends on consumer acceptance, and so it is timely to review the existing literature in this respect. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach - A systematic review identified 42 English language peer reviewed papers assessing public opinion of GM animals associated with food production. Thematic analysis was applied to the results to identify and explain consumer attitudes. Findings - Publication peaked in 2004, and declined thereafter. European consumers were less accepting of GM animal technology than the US and Asian consumers, although the latter reported more ethical concern. Risk and benefit perceptions, ethical concerns (e.g. related to animal welfare) may explain negative consumer attitudes towards animals in food production. Research limitations/implications - There is a lack of data on consumer attitudes to GM animals applied to food production, in particular in relation to consumers in emerging economies and developing countries. This is problematic as applications of GM animal products are about to enter the market. Practical implications - There is a need to track changes in public opinion as GM food production animals are further developed. The introduction and commercialisation of applications with specific characteristics may further shape consumer attitudes. Social implications - Methods need to be developed to involve consumers and other stakeholders in shaping future applications of agri-food applications of GM animals. Originality/value - The review collates existing quantitative and qualitative knowledge regarding the drivers of consumer attitudes towards GM animals used in food production using systematic review methodology.
Safe and efficient food production relies on the detection and monitoring of food characteristics... more Safe and efficient food production relies on the detection and monitoring of food characteristics, environment, processing, and contaminants at all stages in the food production chain. Nanotechnology not only has the potential to optimize existing and create new monitoring techniques at early food production stages, but also may be employed in nano-functionalized agricultural products such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to maximize productivity. The integration of nanotechnological techniques in primary food ...
Nanotechnologies promise to enable improvements in many sectors. One key promising area is in the... more Nanotechnologies promise to enable improvements in many sectors. One key promising area is in the diagnostics and sensing area, where a variety of nanotechnology platforms are being developed for application to land management, process diagnostics, quality control, and authenticity. This chapter gives an overview of some of the key areas of activity in nanotechnologies for improving food quality, safety, and security as identified through the research activities of the European Commission-funded ObservatoryNANO project. It ...
Risk governance is an important element that needs to be addressed following the development and ... more Risk governance is an important element that needs to be addressed following the development and identification of any new technology, including agri-food nanotechnology. Following a general introduction to the principles and components of the internationally ...
Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology, 2014
Double-blind placebo controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) is the gold standard diagnostic test in f... more Double-blind placebo controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) is the gold standard diagnostic test in food allergy because it minimizes diagnostic bias. To investigate the potential effect of diagnosis on the socioeconomic costs of food allergy. A prospective longitudinal cost analysis study was conducted in Spain and Poland within the EuroPrevall project. Food-allergic patients were enrolled into the study and in all cases diagnosis was confirmed through a standardized DBPCFC. Data were collected through a self-administered survey on all aspects of health and social care resource use, costs of living, and costs of leisure activities. Costs were measured before and 6 months after the DBPCFC and reported in international dollars with 2007 as the benchmark year. Forty-two patients were enrolled. Twenty-one patients had a negative DBPCFC and the suspected food was reintroduced into their diet. Comparing total direct costs before and after the DBPCFC, the reactive group spent a significantly ...
Although food allergy has universally been found to impair HRQL, studies have found significant d... more Although food allergy has universally been found to impair HRQL, studies have found significant differences in HRQL between countries, even when corrected for differences in perceived disease severity. However, little is known about factors other than disease severity which may contribute to HRQL in food-allergic patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify factors which may predict HRQL of food-allergic patients and also to investigate the specific impact of having experienced anaphylaxis and being prescribed an EAI on HRQL. A total of 648 European food-allergic patients (404 adults, 244 children) completed an age-specific questionnaire package including descriptive questions. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to develop models for predicting HRQL of these patients. For adults, the prediction model accounted for 62% of the variance in HRQL and included perceived disease severity, type of symptoms, having a fish or milk allergy, and gender. For children,...
Abstract:This paper investigates whether the implementation of traceability systems in line with ... more Abstract:This paper investigates whether the implementation of traceability systems in line with the European General Food Law as well as food labelling laws related to allergens can impact on consumer confidence in food quality and safety. It aims to give insight into consumer demands regarding food traceability, and how consumers perceive the role of traceability within the supply chain. Consumer
Vergroot traceerbaarheid het vertrouwen? Informatie moet bruikbaar zijn voor allergische consumen... more Vergroot traceerbaarheid het vertrouwen? Informatie moet bruikbaar zijn voor allergische consumenten EU-regelingen proberen het vertrouwen van consumenten in de kwaliteit en veiligheid van producten te verhogen. Bedrijven worden verplicht informatie over de herkomst van producten op het etiket te vermelden. Vooral consumenten met voedselallergieën zullen daarvan profiteren.
Uploads
Papers by Lynn Frewer