Consumer knowledge and perceptions of milk fat in Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States

摘要

This study examined the relationship between consumers’country of origin: Denmark (DK), the UnitedKingdom (UK), and the United States (US) and theirknowledge and perceptions of milk fat. Adult participantsanswered a web-based survey, and data were collectedonline from December 2018 to April 2019, inDK, the UK, and the US. A total of 694 participantscompleted the online survey. Most respondents werebetween 18 and 39 years old, female, highly educated,and employed. Most UK respondents consumed milkdaily (73%), whereas in DK (56%) and the US (46%)consumption was significantly lower. Whole milk andsemi-skim milk were consumed less by respondents inDK (20 and 36%, respectively) compared with the UK(50 and 49%, respectively) and the US (47 and 50%,respectively). Danish respondents (53%) consumedmore skim milk than respondents from the UK (16%)and the US (19%). Concern about milk fat was higherin DK (60%) than in the UK (34%) and the US (31%).More respondents considered milk fat to be “healthy”or “very healthy” in the UK (31 and 10%, respectively)and the US (37 and 19%, respectively), than in DK (23and 6%, respectively). Nutritional benefit was the mostimportant reason for perceiving milk fat as healthy inthe 3 countries. Awareness of milk saturated fat washigher among respondents from the UK (53%) thanfrom DK (44%) and the US (38%). Results suggest thatconsumers in DK are different in their perceptions ofmilk fat, but consumers in the UK and the US sharecommon characteristics.