CONSUMER OPINIONS ABOUT INGREDIENTS OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS

Year 2021, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 121 - 139, 30.06.2021

Ayse Ersoy Yıldırım

https://doi.org/10.17261/Pressacademia.2021.1411

Abstract

Purpose- The aim of this study is to examine the consumer approach towards the use of organic ingredients in the production of organic products according to sociodemographic variables.
Methodology- The sample group of the study, in which quantitative research method was used, consists of 608 female consumers in Malatya. To reach the data of the research, a questionnaire form and a personal information form were used to measure the consumer approach to the use of organic ingredients in the production of organic products. Questionnaire forms were completed face-to-face in the city center between November 1 and December 30, 2019. The obtained data were analyzed with inferential and descriptive analysis.
Findings- One of the reasons why the demand for organic products is not as high as it should be is because consumers are sceptical of organic products' reliability, as well as the ingredients used. Consumers have a favourable attitude toward organic items. However, in this study, despite the positive evaluations for organic products, it was seen that there were question marks about the ingredients used and there was a dilemma. The participants were found to be unable to fully trust the definition of "organic product" or to be certain that organic products were free of synthetic raw materials, paraben, SLS, and other non-organic ingredients.
Conclusion- In Turkey and around the world, consumers' opinions regarding organic food products and their purchase behaviours, mostly on organic agricultural products, were investigated. What makes products organic are the ingredients used and the production methods. However, it is mentioned to directly explain what consumers think about organic ingredients with this study. The approaches of consumers regarding the ingredients of organic products within the framework of their socio-demographic characteristics is examined. In this context it has been discovered that consumer views on the use of organic ingredients in organic products vary depending on socio-demographic factors.

Keywords

Organic inputs, organic production, organic ingredient, organic consumption, consumer approach

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