How knowledge, awareness and perceptions of pesticide residue risks in fruits and vegetables, influence purchase decisions across Malaysian communities

Understanding consumer perceptions and behaviours toward pesticide residues in food is vital for food safety and public health. This study examines the knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of 303 participants from rural, suburban, and urban Malaysian communities regarding pesticide residue risks in...

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Main Authors: How, Vivien, Omar, Ain Najwa Delaila, Abdullah, Rozaini, Ho, Yu Bin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115746/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115746/1/115746.pdf
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author How, Vivien
Omar, Ain Najwa Delaila
Abdullah, Rozaini
Ho, Yu Bin
author_facet How, Vivien
Omar, Ain Najwa Delaila
Abdullah, Rozaini
Ho, Yu Bin
author_sort How, Vivien
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Understanding consumer perceptions and behaviours toward pesticide residues in food is vital for food safety and public health. This study examines the knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of 303 participants from rural, suburban, and urban Malaysian communities regarding pesticide residue risks in their food purchases, particularly fruits and vegetables. Participants completed adapted questionnaires via Google Forms or in-person interviews, covering sociodemographic information, food purchasing habits, and levels of knowledge, awareness, and perception of pesticide residues. Results indicate that urban communities have the highest knowledge about pesticide residues, followed by rural and suburban areas. Awareness levels are even across all community types, with rural areas slightly higher. Urban participants also show the highest perception levels, followed by rural and suburban communities. Rural communities demonstrate a strong positive correlation between knowledge and perception, while suburban areas show a moderately positive correlation. Urban communities exhibit significant correlations between knowledge awareness and perception, with a weaker relationship with awareness. These findings highlight the interplay between community settings and consumer behaviour in purchasing fruits and vegetables. The study emphasises the need for tailored educational and policy interventions to address the varying levels of knowledge and concerns about pesticide residues across different Malaysian communities. © The Author(s) 2024.
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spelling upm-1157462025-03-11T07:21:32Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115746/ How knowledge, awareness and perceptions of pesticide residue risks in fruits and vegetables, influence purchase decisions across Malaysian communities How, Vivien Omar, Ain Najwa Delaila Abdullah, Rozaini Ho, Yu Bin Understanding consumer perceptions and behaviours toward pesticide residues in food is vital for food safety and public health. This study examines the knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of 303 participants from rural, suburban, and urban Malaysian communities regarding pesticide residue risks in their food purchases, particularly fruits and vegetables. Participants completed adapted questionnaires via Google Forms or in-person interviews, covering sociodemographic information, food purchasing habits, and levels of knowledge, awareness, and perception of pesticide residues. Results indicate that urban communities have the highest knowledge about pesticide residues, followed by rural and suburban areas. Awareness levels are even across all community types, with rural areas slightly higher. Urban participants also show the highest perception levels, followed by rural and suburban communities. Rural communities demonstrate a strong positive correlation between knowledge and perception, while suburban areas show a moderately positive correlation. Urban communities exhibit significant correlations between knowledge awareness and perception, with a weaker relationship with awareness. These findings highlight the interplay between community settings and consumer behaviour in purchasing fruits and vegetables. The study emphasises the need for tailored educational and policy interventions to address the varying levels of knowledge and concerns about pesticide residues across different Malaysian communities. © The Author(s) 2024. Springer Nature 2024-11-10 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_nc_nd_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115746/1/115746.pdf How, Vivien and Omar, Ain Najwa Delaila and Abdullah, Rozaini and Ho, Yu Bin (2024) How knowledge, awareness and perceptions of pesticide residue risks in fruits and vegetables, influence purchase decisions across Malaysian communities. Discover Food, 4 (1). art. no. 142. ISSN 2731-4286; eISSN: 2731-4286 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44187-024-00228-y?error=cookies_not_supported&code=53f1654d-5a0c-419f-a266-f113dc88115f 10.1007/s44187-024-00228-y
spellingShingle How, Vivien
Omar, Ain Najwa Delaila
Abdullah, Rozaini
Ho, Yu Bin
How knowledge, awareness and perceptions of pesticide residue risks in fruits and vegetables, influence purchase decisions across Malaysian communities
title How knowledge, awareness and perceptions of pesticide residue risks in fruits and vegetables, influence purchase decisions across Malaysian communities
title_full How knowledge, awareness and perceptions of pesticide residue risks in fruits and vegetables, influence purchase decisions across Malaysian communities
title_fullStr How knowledge, awareness and perceptions of pesticide residue risks in fruits and vegetables, influence purchase decisions across Malaysian communities
title_full_unstemmed How knowledge, awareness and perceptions of pesticide residue risks in fruits and vegetables, influence purchase decisions across Malaysian communities
title_short How knowledge, awareness and perceptions of pesticide residue risks in fruits and vegetables, influence purchase decisions across Malaysian communities
title_sort how knowledge, awareness and perceptions of pesticide residue risks in fruits and vegetables, influence purchase decisions across malaysian communities
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115746/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115746/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115746/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115746/1/115746.pdf