TY - JOUR
T1 - The "Land of Fires" Toxic Waste Scandal and Its Effect on Consumer Food Choices
AU - Cembalo, Luigi
AU - Caso, Daniela
AU - Carfora, Valentina
AU - Caracciolo, Francesco
AU - Lombardi, Alessia
AU - Cicia, Gianni
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - The present study focused on an environmental scandal that occurred in Italy, the Land of Fires toxic waste scandal, which caused consumer concerns related to the safety of food produced in the affected region, as well as massive market reduction in products associated with the polluted area. Based on a representative sample of Italian households (N = 1134), this study applied an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model to analyze consumer purchases of regional food products after this environmental hazard. In addition to attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control, the model included risk perception, trust, and actual purchases. Using a structural equation model, our results provided support to the hypothesis that consumer perceptions of risk negatively impacted their purchase behaviors and suggested that increasing Italians' trust in government information could reduce their perceived risk and, consequently, increase their intention to purchase regional food.
AB - The present study focused on an environmental scandal that occurred in Italy, the Land of Fires toxic waste scandal, which caused consumer concerns related to the safety of food produced in the affected region, as well as massive market reduction in products associated with the polluted area. Based on a representative sample of Italian households (N = 1134), this study applied an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model to analyze consumer purchases of regional food products after this environmental hazard. In addition to attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control, the model included risk perception, trust, and actual purchases. Using a structural equation model, our results provided support to the hypothesis that consumer perceptions of risk negatively impacted their purchase behaviors and suggested that increasing Italians' trust in government information could reduce their perceived risk and, consequently, increase their intention to purchase regional food.
KW - environmental psychology
KW - environmental psychology
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/130876
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph16010165
DO - 10.3390/ijerph16010165
M3 - Article
SN - 1660-4601
SP - 1
EP - 14
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
ER -