Consumer food safety perceptions of ready-to-eat deli foods in Northwest Arkansas.

Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods are convenient and have increased in popularity over the past 20 years. Questions about the safety of RTE foods arose after numerous outbreaks of Listeria mono-cytogenes were linked to the consumption of RTE foods, mostly deli meats. To assess current consumers’ food safety perceptions as well as shopping preferences in Northwest Arkansas, 213 consumers were surveyed. Consumers responded that the primary reasons for purchasing deli foods were convenience (37%), taste (32%) and nutritional value (11%). Most of the respondents (68%) believed that deli foods are more nutritious than restaurant foods. A majority responded that deli foods are “as safe as” (66%) or “safer than” (32%) restaurant foods. The food safety perception depended on shopping frequency at delis as well as formal education level. With an increasing frequency of shopping at stand-alone delis, consumers were more likely to perceive deli foods as “safer than” restaurant foods. Consumers with a post-secondary degree were more likely to categorize deli foods as “as safe as” restaurant foods. In conclusion, it appears that Northwest Arkansas deli customers generally are not highly concerned about deli food safety and are only marginally aware of risks associated with these products.