The Impact of Clean Label Packaging for Pea-Based Proteins
Date
2022-05-16
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
There are several definitions of a clean label ranging from broad clean label claims identifying the type of ingredient (i.e., organic, non-GMO, unfamiliar/unrecognizable ingredients) to strict clean label claims identifying the number of ingredients (i.e., shortening of ingredients lists), both of which can appear as Front of Package (FOP) labeling. Therefore, the following research examines what Canadian consumers value in a clean label, how Canadian consumer attitudes toward clean labels could impact the demand for pea-based proteins, and assesses how pea-based burgers compete against hybrid and beef burgers.
The study relied on nationally collected data through an online survey to explore the objectives. The survey was composed of five sections featuring screener questions, discrete choice experiment (DCE), general food purchases, protein choices, and demographics, and analyzed using Multinomial Logit, Mixed Multinomial Logit, and Latent Class models.
The analysis revealed Canadian consumers ranked beef burger patties (60%) as the preferred choice, hybrid burger patties (22%) as the second most preferred choice, pea-based burger patties (18%) as the least preferred burger choice, with the rest selecting no purchase (1%). When exploring burger patty heterogeneity for clean label claims, individuals choosing pea-based burgers exhibited notably different taste preferences for the ingredient list length, exhibiting similar WTP between the organic attribute and shortened ingredient lists. Lastly, the respondents who were less likely to choose pea-based proteins, about 85% of individuals, valued stricter clean labels more than broad clean labels, perceiving that a reduced ingredients list signaled increased product naturalness, nutrition, and did not decrease taste. Concluding reduced ingredients list was the most significant clean label definition within the study.
Description
Keywords
Clean Label, Pea Proteins
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Agricultural and Resource Economics
Program
Agricultural Economics