Functional Food Knowledge and Perceptions among Young Consumers in Malaysia
Changing in consumers lifestyles and food
consumption patterns provide a great opportunity in developing the
functional food sector in Malaysia. There is only a little knowledge
about whether Malaysian consumers are aware of functional food and
if so what image consumers have of this product. The objective of
this research is to determine the extent to which selected socioeconomic
characteristics and attitudes influence consumers-
awareness of functional food. A survey was conducted in the Klang
Valley, Malaysia where 439 respondents were interviewed using a
structured questionnaire. The result shows that most respondents
have a positive attitude towards functional food. For the binary
logistic estimation, the results indicate that age, income and other
factors such as concern about food safety, subscribing to cooking or
health magazines, being a vegetarian and consumers who have been
involved in a food production company significantly influence
Malaysian consumers- awareness towards functional food.
[1] I. Ajzen, "The Theory of Planned Behavior." Organizational Behavior
and Human Decision Processes, vol. 50, pp. 179-211, 1991.
[2] F. Arshad, "Functional foods from the dietetic perspective. Malaysia
Journal of Community Health." Vol8, 2002. Available at:
http://www.communityhealthjournal.org/pdf/Vol8-
02fatimah.pdf(Accessed at 5 July 2011)
[3] F. Arshad, "Functional foods from the dietetic perspective in Malaysia.
(viewpoint)." 2003. Available at:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go2485/is_200306/ai_n9029059/(
Accessed at 5 July 2011)
[4] Asia Development Bank. "Manila Forum 2000: Strategies to fortify
essential foods in Asia and the Pacific." Asia Development Bank
Manila, ILSI and Micronutrient Initiative, Manila, Philippines, 2000.
[5] N.M. Childs, "Functional foods and market entry." World of Ingredient,
October/November, pp. 36-39, 1994.
[6] N. De Jong, M.C. Ocké, H.A.C. Branderhorst, and R. Friele,
"Demographic and lifestyle characteristics of functional food consumers
and dietary supplement users." British Journal of Nutrition, vol. 89, pp.
273-281, 2003.
[7] C. Gianfelice," Foshu: ovvero gli alimenti funzionali." Natural 1, pp.
60-65, 2005. Available at:
http://www.natural1.it/cms/pdf/nutraceutica/Foshu_L.pdf (Accessed at
16 July 2011)
[8] I. Goldberg, "Functional foods: Designed foods, Pharmafoods and
Nutraceuticals." Chapman and Hall, London, 1994.
[9] D. Herath, J. Cranfield, and S. Henson, "Who consumes functional
foods and nutraceuticals in Canada? Results of cluster analysis of the
2006 survey of Canadians' Demand for Food Products Supporting
Health and Wellness." Appetite, vol. 51, pp. 256-265, 2008.
[10] International Food Information Council (IFIC), "Functional Foods:
Attitudinal Research." 2002. Available at:
http://www.foodinsight.org/Resources/Detail.aspx?topic=2002_Functio
nal_Foods_Attitudinal_Research_ (Accessed at 16 July 2011)
[11] International Food Information Council (IFIC), "Consumer attitudes
toward functional foods/foods for health." A trended quantitative
survey, Opinion Leader briefing, 2007. Available at:
http://www.foodinsight.org/Content/6/IFIC%20Functional%20Foods%2
0Web%20cast%2010.10.07.pdf (Accessed at 16 July 2011)
[12] International Market Bureau, "Consumer treands: Functional foods."
2009. Available at: http://www.ats.agr.gc.ca/inter/5299-eng.pdf
(Accessed at 5 July 2011)
[13] G. Jennifer, A. Gillian, and F. Heather, "Opprtunities and constraints in
the functional food market." Nutritious and food science, vol. 33, no. 5,
pp. 213-218, 2003. DOI: 10.1108/00346650310499730
[14] L. Kotilainen, R. Rajalahti, C. Ragasa, and E. Pehu, "Health enhancing
foods: Opportunities for strengthening the sector in developing
countries." Agriculture and Rural Development Discussion Paper 30,
2006.
[15] M. Lawrence, J. Germov, " Future foods: the politics of functional foods
and health claims in Germov J," Williams L (Eds.), A Sociology of
Food and Nutrition, The Social Appetite, Oxford University Press,
Melbourne 119-147, 2004.
[16] S. Michie, And K. Lester, "Words matter: increasing the implementation
of clinical guidelines." Qual Saf Health Care, vol. 14, pp. 367-370,
2005. DOI: 10.1136
[17] B. Mollet, and I. Rowland, "Functional foods: At the frontier between
food and pharma." Current Opinion in Biotechnology, vol. 13, pp. 483-
485, 2002.
[18] K. Menrad, "Market and marketing of functional food in Europe."
Journal of Food Engineering, vol. 56, pp. 181-188, 2003.
[19] M. Ma¨kinen-Aakula, "Trends in functional foods dairy market." In
Proceedings of the third functional food net meeting, 2006.
[20] M. Nestle, "Food politics." University of California Press, Berkeley,
California, 2002.
[21] E. Sloan, " The top 10 functional food trends. The next generation."
Food Technology, vol. 56, pp. 32-57, 2002.
[22] L. Stephen, DeFelice, "The nutraceutical revolution, its impact on food
industry." Trends in Food Sci. AndTech, vol 6, pp. 59-61, 1995.
Available at: http://www.fimdefelice.org/clippings/clip.trendsfeb95.html
(Accessed at 16 July 2011)
[23] D.G. Teresa, and P. Stefano, "The Role of Consumer Acceptance in the
Food Innovation Process: Young Consumer Perception of Functional
Foods in Italy." International Journal of Food System Dynamic, vol. 2,
no. 1, pp. 111-122, 2010. Available at: www.centmapress.org(Accessed
at 16 July 2011)
[24] D.G. Teresa, N. Stefano, and P. Stefano, "The Role of Consumer
Acceptance in the Food Innovation Process: Young Consumer
Perception of Functional Foods in Italy." Proceedings of the
3rdInternational European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation
inFood Networks, February 16-20, 2009, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria.
Available at:
http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/59112/2/DelGiudice-
Pascucci.pdf(Accessed at 16 July 2011)
[25] N. Urala, L. Lähteenmäki, "Reasons behind consumers- functional food
choices." Nutrition & Food Science, vol. 33, pp. 148ÔÇÉ158, 2003.
[26] N. Urala, and L. Lähteenmäki, "Consumers' changing attitudes towards
functional foods." Food Quality and Preference, vol.18, pp. 1-12, 2007.
[27] W. Verbeke, "Consumer acceptance of functional foods: Sociodemographic,
cognitive and attitudinal determinants." Food Quality and
Preference, vol. 16, pp. 45-57, 2005.
[28] J. Wittenbraker, B. Gibbs, and L. Kahle, "Seat belt attitudes, habits and
behaviours: an adaptive amendment to the Fishbein model." J Appl Soc
Psychol, vol. 13, pp. 406-421, 1983.
[1] I. Ajzen, "The Theory of Planned Behavior." Organizational Behavior
and Human Decision Processes, vol. 50, pp. 179-211, 1991.
[2] F. Arshad, "Functional foods from the dietetic perspective. Malaysia
Journal of Community Health." Vol8, 2002. Available at:
http://www.communityhealthjournal.org/pdf/Vol8-
02fatimah.pdf(Accessed at 5 July 2011)
[3] F. Arshad, "Functional foods from the dietetic perspective in Malaysia.
(viewpoint)." 2003. Available at:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go2485/is_200306/ai_n9029059/(
Accessed at 5 July 2011)
[4] Asia Development Bank. "Manila Forum 2000: Strategies to fortify
essential foods in Asia and the Pacific." Asia Development Bank
Manila, ILSI and Micronutrient Initiative, Manila, Philippines, 2000.
[5] N.M. Childs, "Functional foods and market entry." World of Ingredient,
October/November, pp. 36-39, 1994.
[6] N. De Jong, M.C. Ocké, H.A.C. Branderhorst, and R. Friele,
"Demographic and lifestyle characteristics of functional food consumers
and dietary supplement users." British Journal of Nutrition, vol. 89, pp.
273-281, 2003.
[7] C. Gianfelice," Foshu: ovvero gli alimenti funzionali." Natural 1, pp.
60-65, 2005. Available at:
http://www.natural1.it/cms/pdf/nutraceutica/Foshu_L.pdf (Accessed at
16 July 2011)
[8] I. Goldberg, "Functional foods: Designed foods, Pharmafoods and
Nutraceuticals." Chapman and Hall, London, 1994.
[9] D. Herath, J. Cranfield, and S. Henson, "Who consumes functional
foods and nutraceuticals in Canada? Results of cluster analysis of the
2006 survey of Canadians' Demand for Food Products Supporting
Health and Wellness." Appetite, vol. 51, pp. 256-265, 2008.
[10] International Food Information Council (IFIC), "Functional Foods:
Attitudinal Research." 2002. Available at:
http://www.foodinsight.org/Resources/Detail.aspx?topic=2002_Functio
nal_Foods_Attitudinal_Research_ (Accessed at 16 July 2011)
[11] International Food Information Council (IFIC), "Consumer attitudes
toward functional foods/foods for health." A trended quantitative
survey, Opinion Leader briefing, 2007. Available at:
http://www.foodinsight.org/Content/6/IFIC%20Functional%20Foods%2
0Web%20cast%2010.10.07.pdf (Accessed at 16 July 2011)
[12] International Market Bureau, "Consumer treands: Functional foods."
2009. Available at: http://www.ats.agr.gc.ca/inter/5299-eng.pdf
(Accessed at 5 July 2011)
[13] G. Jennifer, A. Gillian, and F. Heather, "Opprtunities and constraints in
the functional food market." Nutritious and food science, vol. 33, no. 5,
pp. 213-218, 2003. DOI: 10.1108/00346650310499730
[14] L. Kotilainen, R. Rajalahti, C. Ragasa, and E. Pehu, "Health enhancing
foods: Opportunities for strengthening the sector in developing
countries." Agriculture and Rural Development Discussion Paper 30,
2006.
[15] M. Lawrence, J. Germov, " Future foods: the politics of functional foods
and health claims in Germov J," Williams L (Eds.), A Sociology of
Food and Nutrition, The Social Appetite, Oxford University Press,
Melbourne 119-147, 2004.
[16] S. Michie, And K. Lester, "Words matter: increasing the implementation
of clinical guidelines." Qual Saf Health Care, vol. 14, pp. 367-370,
2005. DOI: 10.1136
[17] B. Mollet, and I. Rowland, "Functional foods: At the frontier between
food and pharma." Current Opinion in Biotechnology, vol. 13, pp. 483-
485, 2002.
[18] K. Menrad, "Market and marketing of functional food in Europe."
Journal of Food Engineering, vol. 56, pp. 181-188, 2003.
[19] M. Ma¨kinen-Aakula, "Trends in functional foods dairy market." In
Proceedings of the third functional food net meeting, 2006.
[20] M. Nestle, "Food politics." University of California Press, Berkeley,
California, 2002.
[21] E. Sloan, " The top 10 functional food trends. The next generation."
Food Technology, vol. 56, pp. 32-57, 2002.
[22] L. Stephen, DeFelice, "The nutraceutical revolution, its impact on food
industry." Trends in Food Sci. AndTech, vol 6, pp. 59-61, 1995.
Available at: http://www.fimdefelice.org/clippings/clip.trendsfeb95.html
(Accessed at 16 July 2011)
[23] D.G. Teresa, and P. Stefano, "The Role of Consumer Acceptance in the
Food Innovation Process: Young Consumer Perception of Functional
Foods in Italy." International Journal of Food System Dynamic, vol. 2,
no. 1, pp. 111-122, 2010. Available at: www.centmapress.org(Accessed
at 16 July 2011)
[24] D.G. Teresa, N. Stefano, and P. Stefano, "The Role of Consumer
Acceptance in the Food Innovation Process: Young Consumer
Perception of Functional Foods in Italy." Proceedings of the
3rdInternational European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation
inFood Networks, February 16-20, 2009, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria.
Available at:
http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/59112/2/DelGiudice-
Pascucci.pdf(Accessed at 16 July 2011)
[25] N. Urala, L. Lähteenmäki, "Reasons behind consumers- functional food
choices." Nutrition & Food Science, vol. 33, pp. 148ÔÇÉ158, 2003.
[26] N. Urala, and L. Lähteenmäki, "Consumers' changing attitudes towards
functional foods." Food Quality and Preference, vol.18, pp. 1-12, 2007.
[27] W. Verbeke, "Consumer acceptance of functional foods: Sociodemographic,
cognitive and attitudinal determinants." Food Quality and
Preference, vol. 16, pp. 45-57, 2005.
[28] J. Wittenbraker, B. Gibbs, and L. Kahle, "Seat belt attitudes, habits and
behaviours: an adaptive amendment to the Fishbein model." J Appl Soc
Psychol, vol. 13, pp. 406-421, 1983.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:60598", author = "G. Rezai and P.K.Teng and Z. Mohamed and M.N Shamsudin", title = "Functional Food Knowledge and Perceptions among Young Consumers in Malaysia", abstract = "Changing in consumers lifestyles and food
consumption patterns provide a great opportunity in developing the
functional food sector in Malaysia. There is only a little knowledge
about whether Malaysian consumers are aware of functional food and
if so what image consumers have of this product. The objective of
this research is to determine the extent to which selected socioeconomic
characteristics and attitudes influence consumers-
awareness of functional food. A survey was conducted in the Klang
Valley, Malaysia where 439 respondents were interviewed using a
structured questionnaire. The result shows that most respondents
have a positive attitude towards functional food. For the binary
logistic estimation, the results indicate that age, income and other
factors such as concern about food safety, subscribing to cooking or
health magazines, being a vegetarian and consumers who have been
involved in a food production company significantly influence
Malaysian consumers- awareness towards functional food.", keywords = "Binary logistic model, functional foods, knowledge
and awareness, perception", volume = "6", number = "3", pages = "352-6", }
