A mixed-methods exploration of regular consumers’ experiences of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) in Singapore and the United Kingdom
Research on plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) often focuses on its initial acceptance among new consumers with limited investigation into consumers who regularly incorporate PBMA in their diets. This study used a mixed methods approach to investigate PBMA consumption patterns, including motivatio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Future Foods |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666833525001030 |
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| author | Siti Amelia Juraimi Aimee E. Pink Florence Sheen Jennifer Gatzemeier Rochelle Embling Benjamin P.C. Smith |
| author_facet | Siti Amelia Juraimi Aimee E. Pink Florence Sheen Jennifer Gatzemeier Rochelle Embling Benjamin P.C. Smith |
| author_sort | Siti Amelia Juraimi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research on plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) often focuses on its initial acceptance among new consumers with limited investigation into consumers who regularly incorporate PBMA in their diets. This study used a mixed methods approach to investigate PBMA consumption patterns, including motivations and barriers to sustained consumption, among 404 regular consumers (defined as PBMA consumption of at least once a week) in Singapore and the UK (SG: n=228; UK: n=176; 57.9 % women; 69.8 % aged 21–40 years old). Quantitative results showed similar PBMA consumption between Singapore and the UK (p=.498) but motives and barriers to sustained consumption and their consumer characteristics (i.e., food choice motives, food neophobia) were significantly different (p<.001). UK consumers showed greater agreement with motivational statements and were more sustainability-driven while Singapore consumers showed greater agreement with barrier statements and valued the impact of food on their body more. Product-related motives (β=0.22, p<.001) and accessibility barriers (β=0.15, p=.024) predicted overall PBMA consumption in both countries. Qualitative results suggest that whilst UK and Singapore consumers were satisfied with PBMA, they wanted higher nutritional quality, greater accessibility to affordable options and a wider variety. Further improvements in these areas could encourage repeated purchases and support the long-term adoption of PBMA. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4dadf9c19a5149aca59ca4d497a1a17b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-8335 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Future Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-4dadf9c19a5149aca59ca4d497a1a17b2025-08-20T03:49:33ZengElsevierFuture Foods2666-83352025-06-011110064110.1016/j.fufo.2025.100641A mixed-methods exploration of regular consumers’ experiences of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) in Singapore and the United KingdomSiti Amelia Juraimi0Aimee E. Pink1Florence Sheen2Jennifer Gatzemeier3Rochelle Embling4Benjamin P.C. Smith5Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 31 Biopolis Way, Nanos, Singapore 138669, Republic of Singapore; Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, #16-16 Connexis, Singapore 138632, Republic of Singapore; Corresponding author.Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, #16-16 Connexis, Singapore 138632, Republic of Singapore; Institute of Human Development and Potential (IHDP), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore 117609, Republic of Singapore; School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, United KingdomSchool of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, United KingdomSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, United KingdomSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, United KingdomSingapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 31 Biopolis Way, Nanos, Singapore 138669, Republic of Singapore; Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USAResearch on plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) often focuses on its initial acceptance among new consumers with limited investigation into consumers who regularly incorporate PBMA in their diets. This study used a mixed methods approach to investigate PBMA consumption patterns, including motivations and barriers to sustained consumption, among 404 regular consumers (defined as PBMA consumption of at least once a week) in Singapore and the UK (SG: n=228; UK: n=176; 57.9 % women; 69.8 % aged 21–40 years old). Quantitative results showed similar PBMA consumption between Singapore and the UK (p=.498) but motives and barriers to sustained consumption and their consumer characteristics (i.e., food choice motives, food neophobia) were significantly different (p<.001). UK consumers showed greater agreement with motivational statements and were more sustainability-driven while Singapore consumers showed greater agreement with barrier statements and valued the impact of food on their body more. Product-related motives (β=0.22, p<.001) and accessibility barriers (β=0.15, p=.024) predicted overall PBMA consumption in both countries. Qualitative results suggest that whilst UK and Singapore consumers were satisfied with PBMA, they wanted higher nutritional quality, greater accessibility to affordable options and a wider variety. Further improvements in these areas could encourage repeated purchases and support the long-term adoption of PBMA.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666833525001030Plant-based meat alternativesAlternative proteinsMeat substitutesLong-term consumptionMotivationsBarriers |
| spellingShingle | Siti Amelia Juraimi Aimee E. Pink Florence Sheen Jennifer Gatzemeier Rochelle Embling Benjamin P.C. Smith A mixed-methods exploration of regular consumers’ experiences of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) in Singapore and the United Kingdom Future Foods Plant-based meat alternatives Alternative proteins Meat substitutes Long-term consumption Motivations Barriers |
| title | A mixed-methods exploration of regular consumers’ experiences of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) in Singapore and the United Kingdom |
| title_full | A mixed-methods exploration of regular consumers’ experiences of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) in Singapore and the United Kingdom |
| title_fullStr | A mixed-methods exploration of regular consumers’ experiences of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) in Singapore and the United Kingdom |
| title_full_unstemmed | A mixed-methods exploration of regular consumers’ experiences of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) in Singapore and the United Kingdom |
| title_short | A mixed-methods exploration of regular consumers’ experiences of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) in Singapore and the United Kingdom |
| title_sort | mixed methods exploration of regular consumers experiences of plant based meat alternatives pbma in singapore and the united kingdom |
| topic | Plant-based meat alternatives Alternative proteins Meat substitutes Long-term consumption Motivations Barriers |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666833525001030 |
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