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Consumption and labeling of ecological products in the ecuadorian andes

Abstract:

The reality of the ecological market in Ecuador is still being studied, focusing on its production as well as its commercialization and consumption. These products are currently regulated by the food labeling system plan processed by the Ministry of Public Health (MSP). This study focuses on defining the consumer profile of ecological products through sociodemographic characteristics, purchasing habits and attitudes towards the consumption of these foods. At the same time, packaging labels of non-ecological products that could induce the consumer to consider them as such was studied. To this end, 94 people from the city of Ambato, in the center of the Andean country, were surveyed. The results depict different places, frequency as well as purchasing and consumption factors that depend on variables such as gender, age or purchasing power. It was also detected that the majority of respondents perceived some products as ecological when in fact they were not, due to the misleading labeling on the package. Finally, the consumption habits of this type of food is discussed along with the legislative regulations about labeling that were found in products that are not officially ecological.