Beyond food safety: environmental and sensory drivers of organic food purchase intention in an emerging market
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background/objectives Food perception encompasses a multidimensional evaluation of sensory, nutritional, safety, and sustainability attributes, yet the relative contribution of each dimension to attitude formation and subsequent purchase intention remains understudied in emerging market contexts. This study examines the relationships between five perceptual dimensions (food safety, naturalness, nutritional value, environmental concern, and sensory appeal) and attitudes toward organic food and purchase intention. Methods Data were collected via an online survey from 255 consumers using a non-probabilistic convenience and snowball sampling approach. Partial least squares structural equation modeling with 5,000 bootstrap subsamples was employed to test six hypothesized relationships. Results Five of the six hypothesized relationships were supported. Environmental concern, natural content, sensory appeal, and nutritional content were significantly associated with attitude, while food safety concern showed no significant association. The five perception dimensions jointly explained 64.5% of the variance in attitude. Attitude was strongly associated with purchase intention, supporting its central role within the proposed model. Conclusion Food perception operates through an integrated, multidimensional assessment rather than single attributes. The findings highlight the relevance of considering multiple food perception dimensions when examining attitudes toward organic food and purchase-related responses.
Source: Frontiers in Nutrition
Language: English
Topic: Organic Food and Agriculture
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7223293648