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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2019, Vol. 18 Issue (8): 1793-1803    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62589-X
Special Focus: Food economics and policies Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Consumer confidence and consumers’ preferences for infant formulas in China
LI Sai-wei1, ZHU Chen2, CHEN Qi-hui2, LIU Yu-mei1   
1 College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, P.R.China
2 Center for Food and Health Economic Research, College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, P.R.China
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Abstract  
A series of safety incidents related to domestically-produced infant formulas (DIFs) almost destroyed Chinese consumer confidence in domestic dairy products.  Understanding consumer confidence and its effect on consumption behavior is important to restore consumer confidence and enhance the competitiveness of domestic dairy industry.  This article first measures Chinese consumer confidence in DIFs safety using a two-dimension scale (optimism and pessimism) and then investigates its effect on consumers’ preferences for DIFs through a choice experiment.  Involving 450 consumers residing in Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang, the experiment elicited information on their preferences for DIFs with six attributes (organic raw milk, farm-to-table traceability, region of origin, quality certification, animal welfare, and price).  Our analysis yields four findings.  First, Chinese consumers still lack confidence in DIFs safety.  Second, quality certification is the most preferred product characteristic, followed by organic raw milk and farm-to-table traceability.  Third, serving as a signal of high quality, price exerts a positive impact on choices of DIFs for pessimistic consumers.  Finally, consumer preferences for farm-to-table traceability and region of origin are significantly influenced by consumer confidence.
Keywords:  consumer confidence        food safety       infant formula        choice experiment        willingness to pay        China  
Received: 21 June 2018   Accepted:
Fund: This study was funded by a grant from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (05162130111242003) and Sino-Dutch Dairy Development Centre (SDDDC2017R02).
Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence LIU Yu-mei, E-mail: ymliu8028@cau.edu.cn    
About author:  LI Sai-wei, E-mail: lisaiwei@cau.edu.cn;

Cite this article: 

LI Sai-wei, ZHU Chen, CHEN Qi-hui, LIU Yu-mei. 2019. Consumer confidence and consumers’ preferences for infant formulas in China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 18(8): 1793-1803.

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