TY - JOUR
T1 - European consumers' perceptions of time-temperature indicators in food packaging
AU - Pennanen, Kyösti
AU - Focas, C.
AU - Kumpusalo-Sanna, V.
AU - Keskitalo-Vuokko, K.
AU - Matullat, I.
AU - Ellouze, M.
AU - Pentikäinen, Saara
AU - Smolander, Maria
AU - Korhonen, V.
AU - Ollila, M.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Food quality is an essential aspect of the food industry.
Time-temperature indicator (TTI) technology has the
capability to provide information on temperature
fluctuations that temperature-sensitive food products
have undergone. However, the adoption of the TTI
technology in the consumer market has yet to materialize
despite the many benefits that TTIs bring to food
manufacturers, retailers and consumers. One of the
reasons for this could be the general lack of knowledge
regarding consumers' perceptions of TTIs. The aim of this
study is to understand the consumers' knowledge, interest
and perceptions of TTIs. To reach this aim, 16 focus
group discussions and a quantitative survey were
conducted in four European countries (Finland, Greece,
France and Germany) during May-October 2012. Consumers'
views on both the TTI technology concept and two
commercially available TTI applications were studied. The
results of the study show that consumers in all countries
appreciate and understand TTI technology and associate
differing benefits with it, especially so in warmer
countries. On the other hand, the studied applications
did not meet all consumers' expectations implying the
need for further work to enable TTIs to gain a wider
acceptance.
AB - Food quality is an essential aspect of the food industry.
Time-temperature indicator (TTI) technology has the
capability to provide information on temperature
fluctuations that temperature-sensitive food products
have undergone. However, the adoption of the TTI
technology in the consumer market has yet to materialize
despite the many benefits that TTIs bring to food
manufacturers, retailers and consumers. One of the
reasons for this could be the general lack of knowledge
regarding consumers' perceptions of TTIs. The aim of this
study is to understand the consumers' knowledge, interest
and perceptions of TTIs. To reach this aim, 16 focus
group discussions and a quantitative survey were
conducted in four European countries (Finland, Greece,
France and Germany) during May-October 2012. Consumers'
views on both the TTI technology concept and two
commercially available TTI applications were studied. The
results of the study show that consumers in all countries
appreciate and understand TTI technology and associate
differing benefits with it, especially so in warmer
countries. On the other hand, the studied applications
did not meet all consumers' expectations implying the
need for further work to enable TTIs to gain a wider
acceptance.
KW - time-temperature indicator
KW - consumer
KW - intelligent label
KW - food packaging
KW - cold-chain management
U2 - 10.1002/pts.2105
DO - 10.1002/pts.2105
M3 - Article
SN - 0894-3214
VL - 28
SP - 303
EP - 323
JO - Packaging Technology and Science
JF - Packaging Technology and Science
IS - 4
ER -