The Blender Effect: Physical State Of Food Influences Healthiness Perceptions And Consumption Decisions

Keywords

Categorization; Consumption; Packaging; Perceived calorie content; Perceived healthiness; Physical state

Abstract

The results of four experimental studies show that altering the physical state (e.g., solid, liquid) of a food product, a food pictured on a package, or a food on display influences how healthy and calorific consumers perceive the food to be as well as how much they consume, a phenomenon we term the blender effect. Specifically, holding the volume constant, we show that mechanically processing (e.g., blending, juicing) a food to the extent the physical state changes leads consumers to perceive the food as less healthy and higher in calories. Importantly, we show that healthiness and calorie perceptions are not linked to a specific physical state, but are influenced by the degree of mechanical processing suggested by the physical state, with greater levels of mechanical processing leading food to be perceived as less healthy and higher in calories. Priming consumers to think of the alternative forms foods can take attenuates the blender effect. Our findings suggest that food manufacturers can strategically alter the physical state of foods to drive consumers’ perceptions and consumption decisions.

Publication Date

12-1-2016

Publication Title

Food Quality and Preference

Volume

54

Number of Pages

152-159

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2016.07.009

Socpus ID

84979917174 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84979917174

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