Consumer attitudes to novel foods on the island of Ireland

• Project start date: 1 April 2025
• Project status: In the field
• Project type: Food safety
• Discipline: Microbiology and food hygiene
• Author/s: Dr Anne Nugent, Queen’s University Belfast
• Collaborator/s: Dr. Amanda McCloat, Atlantic Technology University, Sligo

Research objective

1. Assess the acceptability of novel foods to consumers.
2. Examine how consumers understand and interpret the information on the labels for novel foods.
3. Ascertain whether consumers have concerns about the safety of novel foods.
4. Examine drivers/barriers in relation to consumers’ willingness to purchase/consume novel foods.
5. Formulate recommendations based on the research findings on steps that could be taken by industry, regulators or others to address the concerns of consumers in relation to novel foods.

Research report