Consumer Trust in Food and the Food System: A Critical Review

Area of Science:

• Consumer Behavior
• Food Science
• Supply Chain Management

Background:

• Growing consumer demand for food safety and quality influences global purchasing decisions.
• Many critical food attributes influencing consumer choice are not visually apparent.
• Consumers depend on reliable information to validate desired food quality and credence attributes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize existing research and develop a framework of key trust-influencing factors in the food system.
• To identify factors beyond visual and brand cues that impact consumer trust in food products and the food system.

Main Methods:

• Systematic synthesis of findings from previous research studies.
• Development of a conceptual framework illustrating trust-building elements in the food system.

Main Results:

• Consumer trust is built through assurances related to individual products and food system actors.
• Product assurance includes labels, certifications, origin information, and traceability.
• Producers, processors, retailers, government agencies, and media collectively shape consumer perceptions of food safety and quality.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive framework identifies key non-visual factors influencing consumer trust in food.
• The framework highlights the roles of product-level information and various stakeholders in establishing trust.
• Future research should validate these trust factors across diverse consumer and market contexts.