Faba Bean Flavor Effects from Processing to Consumer Acceptability.

Faba beans as an alternative source of protein have received significant attention from consumers and the food industry. Flavor represents a major driving force that hinders the utilization faba beans in various products due to off-flavor. Off-flavors are produced from degradation of amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids during seed development and post-harvest processing stages (storage, dehulling, thermal treatment, and protein extraction). In this review, we discuss the current state of knowledge on the aroma of faba bean ingredients and various aspects, such as cultivar, processing, and product formulation that influence flavour. Germination, fermentation, and pH modulation were identified as promising methods to improve overall flavor and bitter compounds. The probable pathway in controlling off-flavor evolution during processing has also been discussed to provide efficient strategies to limit their impact and to encourage the use of faba bean ingredients in healthy food design.

Antecedents of students' e-learning continuance intention during COVID-19: An empirical study

This study aims at exploring the underlying determinants influencing students' continuance intention to use an e-Learning platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the technology acceptance model and expectation-confirmation model, the study investigated the role of contextual (i.e., social isolation), psychological (academic year loss and cyberchondria), and student support-related (government and institutional supports) determinants on students' continuance intention to use an e-Learning platform during the pandemic. The study collected data from 440 respondents and analyzed those with Structural Equation Modeling. The findings showed that an e-Learning continuance intention during the pandemic is affected by usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, and intention to use the e-Learning platform;while the behavioral intention is influenced by usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, contextual, psychological, and student support-related determinants;and attitudes are impacted by usefulness and ease of use. Moreover, usefulness is predicted by confirmation of expectation;e-satisfaction is forecasted by usefulness and confirmation of expectation;whereas, cyberchondria is influenced by social isolation;fear of academic year loss is influenced by cyberchondria. Finally, intention to use mediated the impact of usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, contextual, psychological, and student support-related determinants on continuance intention. The study contributes to e-Learning literature incorporating contextual, psychological, and student support-related determinants into the technology acceptance model and expectation-confirmation model, which guide policymakers to understand how all levels of students can be brought into the e-Learning platforms that eventually help to eliminate digital discrimination barrier in the academia during any emergency. The policymakers must be careful in designing eLearning platforms since students' e-learning continuance intention may vary due to unprecedented crises, such as COVID-19.

Consumer Awareness and Acceptance of Biotechnological Solutions for Gluten-Free Products.

Celiac disease is an immune-mediated disorder caused by the ingestion of gluten proteins. The gluten-free diet is currently the only therapy to achieve the symptoms' remission. Biotechnological approaches are currently being explored to obtain safer and healthier food for celiacs. This article analyzes consumer awareness and acceptance of advanced biotechnologies to develop gluten-free products. An online snowball sampling questionnaire was proposed to 511 Italian participants, selected among celiac and non-celiac people, from December 2020 to January 2021, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 64% of respondents favor food biotechnology, as long as it has benefits for health or the environment. Moreover, biotechnology perception differs according to education level and type. A total of 65% of the survey participants would taste gluten-free products obtained through a biotechnological approach, and 57% would buy them at a higher price than the current market price. Our results show a change in public opinion about the usefulness of food biotechnology and its moral acceptability compared to 20 years ago. However, the study of public opinion is very complex, dealing with individuals with social, economic, and cultural differences. Undoubtedly, the scientific dissemination of genetic biotechnologies must be more effective and usable to increase the level of citizens' awareness.

Avoiding Food Neophobia and Increasing Consumer Acceptance of New Food Trends—A Decade of Research

The increasingly fierce competition in food trends requires producers to innovate and develop new foods to be accepted and to avoid neophobia by consumers at the same time. Food neophobia’s motivational adoption barriers include the consumption of novel foods, social norms and conflicting eating goals. Therefore, appropriate strategies are needed to avoid neophobia amid the presence of new food trends in the market. Efforts to avoid food neophobia can also be accepted as part of the sustainability concept, in which the consumer has new foods to choose from in order to reduce scarcity in one particular type of food. The food industry is also challenged to produce healthy food by producing food from natural ingredients. In this article, new food trends and advances in food processing are described, and through them, strategies to avoid neophobia and increase consumer acceptance of new food trends are referenced. Neophobia meets marketing food products delivered to consumers facing motivational adoption barriers, such as the consumption of novel foods, social norms and conflicting eating goals, which are indicated to be challenges to purchase drivers in new food trends. Tasting foods is indicated as one of the most efficient means to ensure neophobia reduction in new foods and new food trends. Other factors identified to reduce food neophobia are education, income, taste and exposure to novel foods. Some preconditions for novel foods to be accepted by consumers are related to the very nature of food innovation, the manufacturer’s features and market circumstances. Food processed with advanced technologies may differ depending on the brand of the food production company and the knowledge of consumers about the novel foods. Moreover, food technology is seen as more acceptable for plant food products based or natural ingredients for consumers. In addition to the focus on health benefits, it is supports the sustainability of food systems. Another accidental element is the transparent traceability system providing accurate and adequate information about such novel foods.

Consumer Perception and Acceptability of Plant-Based Alternatives to Chicken.

The prevalence of plant-based alternatives (PBAs) to meat in the marketplace has been increasing in recent years due to consumer demand. One of these plant-based products has aimed to mimic chicken products, specifically chicken nuggets. However, few sensory studies have been conducted on these products. The objective of this study is to evaluate the sensory properties, acceptability, and consumer perception of these PBAs. Participants (n = 105) were asked to evaluate five PBAs and a control (chicken nugget) using hedonic scales and a check-all-that-apply question. They also answered an open-ended comment question about PBAs. The participants separated the control from the PBAs in terms of their hedonic scores and sensory properties. They separated the PBAs based on their textural properties and if they had off-flavors. Participants disliked PBAs that were associated with an aftertaste, as well as beany, fibrous, and chewy attributes. The participants believed the PBAs currently on the market did not successfully mimic a chicken nugget and that improvement is needed, but they did believe PBAs are environmentally friendly.

Assessment of Critical Factors Influencing Consumers’ Acceptance of Wearable Sports Devices During COVID-19 Pandemic Conditions

Amid rising COVID-19 stringency measures, sedentary behavior has been intensified globally, leading to intense chronic diseases. Due to the potential health benefits associated with digital wearables, there is a dire need to explore the crucial determinants for consumers, which could enhance the usage of sports wearables in addressing health challenges. For this purpose, a novel conceptual framework was developed, and Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed on the primary data of 463 consumers from China. The results revealed a positive association of consumer innovativeness, perceived credibility, perceived ease in using sports wearables, perceived usefulness in using sports wearables, social influence for sports wearables, health benefits, and hedonic motivation for sports wearables during COVID-19 with the adoption intention of sports wearables. The study findings offer valuable policy recommendations to minimize COVID-19 health risks by efficiently monitoring consumers’ health status. Copyright © 2022 He, Shang, Ajaz, Nureen and Sukstan.

Edible Insect Farming in the Context of the EU Regulations and Marketing-An Overview.

Insects are increasingly being considered as an attractive source of protein that can cater to the growing demand for food around the world and promote the development of sustainable food systems. Commercial insect farms have been established in various countries, mainly in Asia, but in Europe, edible insects have not yet emerged as a viable alternative to traditional plant- and animal-based sources of protein. In this paper, we present an interdisciplinary overview of the technological aspects of edible insect farming in the context of the EU regulations and marketing. Based on a review of the literature, we have concluded that edible insect farming can be a viable business sector that significantly contributes to the overall sustainability of food systems if the appropriate regulations are introduced and food safety standards are guaranteed. However, the success of the edible insect industry also requires consumer acceptance of entomophagy, which is rather low in Western societies. Therefore, targeted marketing strategies are indispensable to support the implementation of edible insect programs.

A framework for measuring the adoption factors in digital mobile payments in the COVID-19 era

Purpose This study aims to identify the acceptance factors in the UAE for the digital mobile payment market, introduces a new hierarchical framework based on the continuation intention factors and prioritises the importance of the acceptance criteria and sub-criteria. Design/methodology/approach The measurement of acceptance factors in payment systems is a complex and unstructured topic involving many criteria and sub-criteria, which requires breaking the problem down into several components organised in a hierarchical multi-level form. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methodology manages the complexity of multi-criteria decision-making processes based on a new set of criteria connected to the adoption and continuance intention factors. Findings The AHP framework developed a ranking of 18 sustainability sub-factors based on evaluations by experienced payment professionals. Research limitations/implications The future directions of the research would be to investigate the impact of dynamic capabilities on the resilience of retail service networks, especially during COVID-19, where supply and demand are highly indeterminate. Practical implications Through successive stages of data collection, measurement analysis and refinement, the contribution of this research is a reliable and valid framework that can be used to conceptualise and prioritise sustainability strategies in payment management. Originality/value Given the lowest mobile payment products penetration rates of the UAE and the scarcity of literature on this topic, this study aims to contribute to the knowledge by including UTAUT, the IS success model and the impact of COVID-19 as adoption and continuance intention factor in the digital mobile payment case in the UAE.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on consumer's interaction on mobile banking application: Evidence from Jordan

Since COVID-19 became a pandemic, the global economy has been dramatically affected. Not just that, the consumer behavior in the retail market has also changed. This paper aims to examine the effect of the coronavirus crisis on consumer behavior in retail services. The paper will focus on retail banking services, especially the Jordanian banking sector. The goal of the study was achieved by conducting a survey among Jordanian consumers in the retail banking sector, which was done using questionnaires, a sample of 240 retail customers from 14 valid participants. The paper brings new insight into how the pandemic affected retail banking services and proves the acceptance of online and banking in the conceptual model. The results show that the variables around attitudes toward the internet and mobile banking were directly and positively affected by the variables related to the perception of the pandemic's impact on the consumer's lifestyle. Other variables such as the safety of using online and mobile banking services and phones also contributed to this rise in a positive attitude. The Trust in Mobile and internet banking has several administrative and social implications, which were also discussed. Because new consumption behavior models are being developed, mobile and internet services could prevail even after the later stages of the epidemic. Initiatives to provide online educational programs, especially financial courses, should be intensified by the banks in Jordan to enable their customers to be familiar with the use of the banks' online banking services. They should enhance their communication with their customers and offer new products and services while also showing flexibility while negotiating to refinance and loaning terms. © 2022, Growing Science. All rights reserved.

I won't touch money because it is dirty: examining customer's loyalty toward M-payment

Purpose Several industries including banking are booming because of COVID-19. However, it is still unknown whether this growth is momentary or permanent in nature. Hence, this study aims to identify the role of health-related concerns and trust as stimuli on M-payment loyalty. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through Google Forms from 431 participants. Subjects were M-payment users. The hypothesized model was tested using structural equational modeling. Findings Results of the study indicate that perceived severity and trust act as stimuli for M-payment loyalty. Further, trust not only influences loyalty directly but also through intimacy. Additionally, no linear relationship was found between perceived usefulness and M-payment loyalty. Originality/value This work is an early attempt to consider health-related concerns and trust as stimuli to predict M-payment loyalty. Further, this study focused on three new constructs, namely perceived severity, perceived susceptibility and intimacy, that are underexplored in digital banking literature.

How Cellular Agriculture Systems Can Promote Food Security

Cellular agriculture, the manufacturing of animal-sourced foods by cell cultures, may promote food security by providing a food source that is available, accessible, utilized, and stable. The extent to which cellular agriculture can promote food security, however, will depend in part on the supply system by which it produces food. Many cellular agriculture companies appear poised to follow a centralized supply system, in which production is concentrated within a small number of large plants and products are distributed over a wide area. This model benefits from economies of scale, but has several weaknesses to food security. By being built of a handful of plants with products distributed by a large transportation network, the centralized model is vulnerable to closures, as became clear for animal-sourced centralized system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cellular agriculture systems are being built now;therefore, alternative supply system models of decentralized and distributed systems should be considered as the systems of cellular agriculture production are established. This paper defines both the requirements of food security and three possible supply system models that cellular agriculture could take and evaluates each model based on the requirements of food security.

THE IMPACT OF ATTITUDE AND SUBJECTIVE NORM ON AIRLINE PASSENGERS' TRAVEL INTENTION IN THE COVID-19 ERA: MEDIATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED RISK

The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented effects without distinction between the public and private sectors. Service industries that have been interrelated in different ways have felt the effects more. The airline industry is the most important service-intensive sector and the COVID-19 era has important effects on the demand and supply of the industry. The demand-side analysis of the industry, which has been consisted of the passengers, is important to understand in the COVID-19 era. The travel intention of airline passengers will play a critical role in the recovery process of the industry in the pandemic process. The study aims to reveal the antecedents of airline passengers' travel intentions in the COVID-19 era. The empirical data were collected through respondents in Turkey. The PLS-SEM was employed to test the hypotheses. Findings indicate that there is a significant relationship between travel intention and trust, perceived risk, perceived value, habit. Also, the findings show that there is no relationship between travel intention and social norms. According to the mediation analysis results, it was found that the trust and social norms in airline services directly affects the air travel intention, as well as indirectly by reducing the perceived risk.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Willingness to Consume Insect-Based Food Products in Catalonia.

Edible insects are being considered as a sustainable source of protein and are continuously appearing in markets in the West. The impact of COVID-19 on the willingness to consume (WTC) two products enriched with insect ingredients, jam and yogurt, was analyzed. A semistructured questionnaire was applied using the Qualtrics© consumer panel. Data was collected from 799 and 481 consumers before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in Catalonia (Spain), respectively. The multinomial logit (MNL) model was used to analyze the determinant factors affecting consumers' WTC insect-based products and the impact of COVID-19 on such heterogeneity. Results showed that the outbreak of COVID-19 caused a significant decrease in the WTC. Findings also revealed that consumers who contracted the COVID-19, strictly followed the regulations during the confinement, and are well informed about symptoms were more likely to reject the consumption of the insect-based products. Both before and during the lockdown, results showed that young and employed consumers, with low-income level, who give importance to the environmental attribute in food are prone to consume insect-based food products. The COVID-19 outbreak had a homogenizing impact on consumers' WTC with respect to the gender variable. Consumers' affirmation towards strict food safety standards of the insect-based products should be remarked.