Towards a better understanding of eating behaviour through the concept of Perception of Nutritional Risk

The general public’s nutritional behaviour is a priority of public-health authorities. Associated diseases are the prime cause of mortality worldwide. For reasons of public health, a better understanding of the consumer Perception of Nutritional Risk (PNR) is essential, since this, according to the protection motivation theory, influences behavioural intention (Maddux and Rogers, 1983; Rogers, 1975). Following a review of the literature and qualitative research, the present article endeavours to clarify the concept of PNR, explore potential explanatory or moderating factors, and identify leads for future research. We show that PNR depends not solely on the product characteristics (role of perceived naturalness), but also the consumption situation (role of commensality) and purchasing conditions (role of hyperchoice).