[Consumer expectations concerning the quality of food from animals]

Quality is the most important feature that a consumer expects from food. There is no objective concept for quality, but "quality" exists in the individual consumers opinion. The quality of a product is, from the consumers point of view, not just its characteristic, but the subjective feeling of each consumer. Empirical examinations show the existence of different "consumer-categories", where the criteria of quality differ elementary. Additional to this subjective opinion the discussion in the media about substances in food that may be harmful to ones health confuses the consumer and leads to a semantic separation between the terms "Eating" and "Nutrition". Especially meat-products are effected by this discussion. The recent increase of a consumers uncertainty concerning meat-products, which is influenced by information and reports about bad conditions in livestock breeding and animal transports as well as conditions in slaughterhouses is reflected. The consumers confrontation with the origin of meat-products causes feelings of guilt and therefore a decreasing request for meat. Although, there is no long term change in eating habits for the majority of the population because of the aspects mentioned before, it must be worked towards an improvement concerning this particular situation as soon as possible.