Abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine factors that may influence the
acceptance of nanotechnology products in the food domain. Data come from a
representative mail survey conducted in the German-speaking part of Switzerland
(n = 514). Participants received information about six realistic nanotechnology food
and food packaging applications. Results showed that trust, general attitude toward
technology and attitude toward gene technology influenced perceived benefits of
the applications. Trust, attitude toward gene technology and preferences for healthy
and organic food influenced perceived risks of nanotechnology applications.
Willingness to buy nanotechnology food and packaging products was strongly
influenced by perceived benefits and weakly influenced by perceived risks.
Furthermore, the study showed that food and packaging applications containing
nanoparticles are perceived differently, the latter receiving greater acceptance.
Abstract: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine consumers' willingness to buy health-beneficial food products produced using nanotechnology. Design/methodology/approach - Data were collected from two representative mail surveys conducted in Switzerland (n = 255 and n = 260, respectively). Consumers' decision-making process was modeled using conjoint analysis. Findings - Results suggest that consumers attribute a negative utility to nanotechnology foods, even though the products had a clear benefit for the consumers. Results suggest that consumers are interested in products with additional health effects only when the effect is due to natural additives. Research limitations/implications - Other descriptions of nanotechnology may result in other evaluations. Practical implications - The study suggests that attitudes towards nanotechnology should be taken into account at an early stage of product development. Originality/value - This paper is of value to those interested in nanotechnology and food.
Abstract: Engineered nanomaterials pose many new questions on risk assessmentthat are not yet completely answered. Thus, voluntary industrial risk assessment initiatives can be considered vital to the environmental health and safety issues associated with engineered nanomaterials. We present an overview of the general properties of nanomaterial products in the market, and how industry, in general, approaches issues of nanomaterial risk and safety based on a written survey of 40 companies working with nanomaterials in Germany and Switzerland. It was found that the nanomaterials in this sample exhibited such a diversity of properties that a categorization according to risk and material issues could not be made. Twenty-six companies (65%) indicated that they did not perform any risk assessment of their nanomaterials and 13 companies (32.5%) performed risk assessments sometimes or always. Fate of nanomaterials in the use and disposal stage received little attention by industry and the majority of companies did not foresee unintentional release of nanomaterials throughout the life cycle. The development of risk and safety decision frameworks in industry seems therefore necessary to ensure that the potential risks of engineered nanomaterials are taken into consideration.
Abstract: Nanotechnology is a collective definition referring to every technology and science which operates on a nanoscale. At this scale new scientific principles and material properties can be found. Nanotechnology is widely seen as having huge potential to bring benefits to many areas of research and application and is attracting increasing investments from businesses and governments all over the world. At the same time, it is recognized that its application may raise new challenges in the safety, regulatory or ethical domains that will require societal debate. Against this backdrop the question gains in importance on how nanotechnology can be developed in a sustainable way over the whole life cycle. This special issue focuses on different facets of sustainable nanotechnology development. It shows the progress that has been made in this field and highlights important achievements and gaps at theoretical as well at applied levels. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Abstract: Nanotechnology has the potential to generate new food products and new food packaging. In a mail survey in the German speaking part of Switzerland, lay people's (N=337) perceptions of 19 nanotechnology applications were examined. The goal was to identify food applications that are more likely and food applications that are less likely to be accepted by the public. The psychometric paradigm was employed, and applications were described in short scenarios. Results suggest that affect and perceived control are important factors influencing risk and benefit perception. Nanotechnology food packaging was assessed as less problematic than nanotechnology foods. Analyses of individual data showed that the importance of naturalness in food products and trust were significant factors influencing the perceived risk and the perceived benefit of nanotechnology foods and nanotechnology food packaging. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Abstract: The goal of the present study was to examine factors that influence willingness to buy functional foods. Data were collected from a representative mail survey in Switzerland (n = 249). Results suggest that consumers are more inclined to buy functional foods with physiological health claims compared with psychological health claims. Health claims were most positively evaluated when attached to a product with a positive health image. Results further show that participants who have trust in the food industry are more likely to buy functional foods compared with participants who do not have trust in the food industry. Older consumers were more interested in functional foods than younger consumers. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Abstract: Voluntary initiatives by industry have been frequently proposed as one of the most promising ways to reduce potential negative impacts on human health and the environment from nanomaterials. In this study, we examined the industrial perceptions, internal procedures, and performance of the nanomaterial industry. We conducted a written survey of 40 companies in Switzerland and Germany. Most companies replied that nanoparticulate materials (NPMs) should be subject to some kind of regulation, but industry did not convey a clear opinion as to who should be responsible for managing the potential environmental health impacts or how to regulate NPMs throughout their life cycle. If NPM risks were to be identified, most of the companies surveyed do not have standardized procedures for changing production technology, substituting inputs, redesigning processes, or reformulating final products to reduce or eliminate risks of NPMs. However, a majority of the survey respondents found their existing routines regarding these procedures to be sufficient.
Abstract: Public perception of nanotechnology may influence the realization of technological advances. Laypeople's (N = 375) and experts' (N = 46) perception of 20 different nanotechnology applications and three nonnanotechnology applications were examined. The psychometric paradigm was utilized and applications were described in short scenarios. Results showed that laypeople and experts assessed asbestos as much more risky than nanotechnology applications. Analyses of aggregated data suggested that perceived dreadfulness of applications and trust in governmental agencies are important factors in determining perceived risks. Similar results were observed for experts and laypeople, but the latter perceived greater risks than the former. Analyses of individual data showed that trust, perceived benefits, and general attitudes toward technology influenced the perceived risk of laypeople. In the expert sample, confidence in governmental agencies was an important predictor of risks associated with nanotechnology applications. Results suggest that public concerns about nanotechnology would diminish if measures were taken to enhance laypeople's trust in governmental agencies.
Abstract: Nanotechnology is increasingly being employed in the areas of food production and packaging. Public perception will be crucial to the realization of these technological advances. We examined how lay people (N = 153) perceive nanotechnology foods and nanotechnology food packaging, and we examined the factors that influence willingness to buy these products. Participants received some general information about nanotechnology, and specific information about four nanotechnology applications. Overall, participants were hesitant to buy nanotechnology foods or food with nanotechnology packaging. Results suggest, however, that nanotechnology packaging is perceived as being more beneficial than nanotechnology foods. Results further suggest that social trust in the food industry is an important factor directly influencing the affect evoked by these new products. As suggested by the affect heuristic, affect had an impact on perceived benefits and perceived risks. Perceived benefit seems to be the most important predictor for willingness to buy. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Abstract: The novel properties of nanoparticulate materials (NPM) and the rapid development of NPM based products have raised many unanswered questions and concerns by different stakeholders over its consequences for the environment and human health. These concerns have led to an increasing discussion in both the US and Europe about possible regulatory policies for NPM. In this article a comparative study of stakeholders' perceptions on regulatory policy issues with NPM in Europe is presented. It was found that industry wants to regulate this area if the scientific evidence demonstrates that NPM are harmful, but also that the regulatory bodies do not find it necessary at this point of time to regulate until scientific evidence demonstrates that NPM are harmful. This research therefore shows that there will most likely not be any regulatory interventions until there is an established and convincing scientific knowledge base demonstrating that NPM can be hazardous. It is furthermore discussed in this article the different roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders in financing the research required to establish the necessary level of fundamental scientific evidence. It was also found that the activity of the regulatory bodies on this issue differ between the European countries.
Abstract: Nanoparticulate materials (NPM) pose many new questions oil risk assessment that are not completely answered and concerns have been raised of their potential toxicity and life cycle impacts. Voluntary industrial initiatives have been often proposed as one of the most promising ways to reduce potential negative impacts oil human health and the environment from nanomaterials. We present a study which had the purpose to investigate how NPM industry in general perceives precaution, responsibility and regulations, how they approach risk assessment in terms of internal procedures, and how they assess their own performance. The survey shows that industry does not convey a clear opinion oil responsibility and regulatory action, and that the majority of companies do not have standardized procedures for changes in production technology, input substitution, process redesign, and final product reformulation as a result of a risk assessment. A clear majority of the companies found their existing routines regarding these procedures to be sufficient.
