Authors
Abstract(s)
Numa sociedade cada vez mais exigente com os vectores da qualidade, a área alimentar
não constitui excepção. Esses parâmetros inerentes à segurança alimentar tornam-se
cada vez mais restritos e exigentes, formando balizas facilmente reconhecidas pelo
consumidor em geral.
Assim o presente estudo visa compreender como o consumidor português percepciona o
actual estado da segurança alimentar em Portugal na restauração e quais os mecanismos
ou atitudes que utiliza para se certificar, que está perante um alimento seguro. Neste
contexto foi elaborado um inquérito disseminado on-line, através de consumidores com
presença nas redes sociais e emitentes da sua percepção em perfis na área da
restauração, com o intuito de aferir a percepção dos mesmos em relação ao consumo na
restauração.
Pela análise de 110 respostas válidas, verifica-se que o consumidor se sente confiante
quando se desloca a um espaço de restauração, contudo a maioria dos consumidores
reconhece o risco de intoxicação alimentar. Um factor a realçar neste estudo é que a
segurança alimentar constitui um factor de escolha, superiorizando-se mesmo em
relação ao preço. Averigua ainda a propensão do consumidor estar disposto a pagar um
valor adicional para obter segurança num restaurante e como hierarquiza a segurança
alimentar em relação a outros factores de atracção referentes a um determinado
restaurante. Constata-se ainda uma amostra informada, capaz de classificar alimentos
que possam ser susceptíveis de provocar intoxicações, mas que ainda demonstra
dúvidas sobretudo em relação a critérios de conservação dos alimentos bem como à
actuação das organizações institucionais de fiscalização preventiva.
In an ever more demanding society as concerns quality, the food area is no exception. The parameters relative to food safety are becoming increasingly restricted and demanding, providing limits easily recognised by consumers in general. Thus, the present study seeks to understand how the Portuguese consumer perceives the current state of food safety in Portugal in restaurants and which are the mechanisms or attitudes used to certify that they are dealing with safe food. In this context an online survey was performed, leveraging social networks and shared perceptions on profiles related to restaurants, with the objective to ascertain the consumer’s perception in relation to consumption in restaurants. From analyzing 110 valid responses one can see that the consumer feels confident in going to a restaurant, however the risk of food intoxication is present in the majority of the respondents. A factor deserving attention in this study is that food safety constitutes a factor of choice, up and above, even, that of price. The survey also questioned the propension of the consumer to pay an additional fee to obtain safety in a restaurant, and how food safety is hierarchically organized in relation to other factors of attraction referring to a particular restaurant. One can verify that the sample is well informed, capable of classifying food which can be susceptible of provoking intoxications, but that still has some doubts mainly in relation to food conservation criteria as well as concerning how institutions preventively fiscalizing restaurants should act.
In an ever more demanding society as concerns quality, the food area is no exception. The parameters relative to food safety are becoming increasingly restricted and demanding, providing limits easily recognised by consumers in general. Thus, the present study seeks to understand how the Portuguese consumer perceives the current state of food safety in Portugal in restaurants and which are the mechanisms or attitudes used to certify that they are dealing with safe food. In this context an online survey was performed, leveraging social networks and shared perceptions on profiles related to restaurants, with the objective to ascertain the consumer’s perception in relation to consumption in restaurants. From analyzing 110 valid responses one can see that the consumer feels confident in going to a restaurant, however the risk of food intoxication is present in the majority of the respondents. A factor deserving attention in this study is that food safety constitutes a factor of choice, up and above, even, that of price. The survey also questioned the propension of the consumer to pay an additional fee to obtain safety in a restaurant, and how food safety is hierarchically organized in relation to other factors of attraction referring to a particular restaurant. One can verify that the sample is well informed, capable of classifying food which can be susceptible of provoking intoxications, but that still has some doubts mainly in relation to food conservation criteria as well as concerning how institutions preventively fiscalizing restaurants should act.
Description
Keywords
Segurança alimentar Alimento seguro Boas práticas alimentares Risco alimentar Perigo Consumidor Percepção do risco Food safety Safe food Good food practice Food risk Danger Consumer Risk perception