TY - JOUR

T1 - Consumer knowledge and perceptions of milk fat in Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States

AU - Vargas-Bello-Pérez, E.

AU - Faber, I.

AU - Osorio, J. S.

AU - Stergiadis, S.

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - This study examined the relationship between consumers' country of origin: Denmark (DK), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) and their knowledge and perceptions of milk fat. Adult participants answered a web-based survey, and data were collected online from December 2018 to April 2019, in DK, the UK, and the US. A total of 694 participants completed the online survey. Most respondents were between 18 and 39 years old, female, highly educated, and employed. Most UK respondents consumed milk daily (73%), whereas in DK (56%) and the US (46%) consumption was significantly lower. Whole milk and semi-skim milk were consumed less by respondents in DK (20 and 36%, respectively) compared with the UK (50 and 49%, respectively) and the US (47 and 50%, respectively). Danish respondents (53%) consumed more skim milk than respondents from the UK (16%) and the US (19%). Concern about milk fat was higher in DK (60%) than in the UK (34%) and the US (31%). More respondents considered milk fat to be “healthy” or “very healthy” in the UK (31 and 10%, respectively) and the US (37 and 19%, respectively), than in DK (23 and 6%, respectively). Nutritional benefit was the most important reason for perceiving milk fat as healthy in the 3 countries. Awareness of milk saturated fat was higher among respondents from the UK (53%) than from DK (44%) and the US (38%). Results suggest that consumers in DK are different in their perceptions of milk fat, but consumers in the UK and the US share common characteristics.

AB - This study examined the relationship between consumers' country of origin: Denmark (DK), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) and their knowledge and perceptions of milk fat. Adult participants answered a web-based survey, and data were collected online from December 2018 to April 2019, in DK, the UK, and the US. A total of 694 participants completed the online survey. Most respondents were between 18 and 39 years old, female, highly educated, and employed. Most UK respondents consumed milk daily (73%), whereas in DK (56%) and the US (46%) consumption was significantly lower. Whole milk and semi-skim milk were consumed less by respondents in DK (20 and 36%, respectively) compared with the UK (50 and 49%, respectively) and the US (47 and 50%, respectively). Danish respondents (53%) consumed more skim milk than respondents from the UK (16%) and the US (19%). Concern about milk fat was higher in DK (60%) than in the UK (34%) and the US (31%). More respondents considered milk fat to be “healthy” or “very healthy” in the UK (31 and 10%, respectively) and the US (37 and 19%, respectively), than in DK (23 and 6%, respectively). Nutritional benefit was the most important reason for perceiving milk fat as healthy in the 3 countries. Awareness of milk saturated fat was higher among respondents from the UK (53%) than from DK (44%) and the US (38%). Results suggest that consumers in DK are different in their perceptions of milk fat, but consumers in the UK and the US share common characteristics.

KW - consumer perception

KW - knowledge

KW - milk consumption

KW - milk fat

U2 - 10.3168/jds.2019-17549

DO - 10.3168/jds.2019-17549

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32171517

AN - SCOPUS:85081935647

VL - 103

SP - 4151

EP - 4163

JO - Journal of Dairy Science

JF - Journal of Dairy Science

SN - 0022-0302

IS - 5

ER -