Quality in food products: the consumer's perspective

Understanding and explaining the process of food evaluation and choice is to understand and explain the perception process of food quality Product quality is a summary construct, which subsumes many other aspects of the product and is a fundamental criterion for consumers to evaluate and choose food products. In this article the concept of quality from the consumers view point is explored and several theoretical models that explain the perception process of food quality are discussed. Furthermore, the importance of quality for consumers’ food choice and the role of product attributes and of intrinsic and extrinsic cues on the consumer decision-making process will be discussed. Special attention is given to the issues of health and safety in food products and to their contribution to the perceived quality of these products.