Essay on Factors Influencing Organic Food Consumption and Demographics

This essay explores the multifaceted factors influencing the consumption of organic food, examining the interplay of demographics, consumer behavior, and ethical considerations. It begins by highlighting the increasing importance of food safety as a driver for organic purchases, contrasting organic and non-organic options. The essay's core argument posits that individuals with lower incomes and higher education levels are more likely to purchase organic food. It then delves into the impact of the industrial revolution on food production, emphasizing how it spurred the adoption of organic methods. The analysis covers the role of ethical consumers, social pressures, and technology adoption in shaping green consumption patterns. The essay also discusses the European Commission's guidelines for organic product production, emphasizing natural life cycles and minimal environmental impact. Furthermore, it touches upon the attributes of organic food, such as high antioxidant levels and animal welfare considerations. The essay concludes by summarizing the positive relationship between education, income, and organic food consumption while emphasizing the historical context of organic product introduction as a response to industrialized farming practices. References are provided to support the arguments presented.

ESSAY

Introduction
Food safety has become one of the major concerns that motivates people to buy organic food.
It is said that attributes of organic food motivates the people to but organic food even when
they are more expensive as compared to non-organic food. This report has discussed on
different demographics that affected the use of organic products. The thesis statement is
“people with low level income with high education often buy organic food.” Industrial
revolution was severe consequence of increasing population and lesser production of food
grains that offended the use of traditional methods (Godfray, Charles, 816).
According to Lee, Hyun-Joo, and Zee-Sun Yun, 260, people who have high education often
buy organic food as compared to people who has low-income level. It is important to know
that it is beneficial to the companies, which aims to extend the business activities to the
different segments of market. Recent studies have revealed that purchasing motivation of
low-income customers will attain higher education. Consumers who have a self-identity are
recognised as ethical consumers who believe the level of ethics for decision-making. Food is
often labelled organic or fair trades as perceived by the green and ethical customers, which
are ecologically sensible. Apart from this social pressure plays an important role in
influencing the green consumption level, and technology adaption. Low-income families
have difficulty in purchasing healthy food due to tight budget. Low-income families often
spend minimum three times their incomes so that they will be available to buy healthy stuff.
Accoding to Hempel, Corinna, and Ulrich Hamm, 735, European commission has defined the
method of producing the organic products in the way of producing food hat considers natural
life cycle their priority. It has minimum effect of human activities on the environment and
tries to operate as natural as possible. These products are produced in such a way where
natural resources and environment are preserved by using the natural elements. Apart from

this, the use of pesticides, antibiotics, and fertilizers are extremely less while producing the
organic product. Organic products are recognised as safe for health related to pesticide
residue.
It is important to know the attributes of the organic food such as these fruits and vegetables
have high degree of antioxidants where as much as pesticides are not used with the
conventional ones. It considers respecting animal welfare during the production of organic
products. European commission outlines the welfare of the animals in organic farming as the
livestock are brought up in open-air and free-range environment fed through organic fodder
(Hwang, Jiyoung, 286).
With the growing demand of organic products, several organisations have started promoting
the use of organic products rather than conventional products. For example- Monki, which
belongs to H&M as a parent company, it started producing jean products by using the cotton.
By following the same direction of Monki, Zara started introducing clothes collection named
join life in autumn 2016 by sustainable material such as cotton material. Same as clothing
industry, food industry have started to adopt the trend. For example- McDonald serve
hamburger in the Germany market in 2015 from the meat of cattle, which are raised in an
organic way. Other example is Wendy’s is the largest US burger chain has partnered with the
Honest Tea in order to provide customers with the organic teas from their menu so that they
can adapt some sprouting flavours and preferences of the customers. Valio, which is a giant
dairy organisation, provides yoghurt and organic milk in order to meet the increasing demand
of market as an organic product (Juhl, Jørn, Fenger, and Thøgersen, 531).
Many researchers concerned the perception, intention, and attitude of customers behind the
purchase of organic products. It considers demographic profile of the organic consumers, it is
being reported that the consumers of the organic products especially women with high school

or less happening tends to buy organic products. Working women and middle-aged women
consumes more organic food products as compared to men. The existence of children has
increased the consumption of organic food in the households. As the possibility of consuming
the organic fruits and vegetables are high with presence of kids in the house (Mie, Axel, et al,
111). It is understood that level of education and level of income affect the decision making
of consuming organic products. High level of education with high income people are more
tend to purchase organic products (Teng, Ching, and Wang, 1070).
Age is a factor that reports that reports the effect of consumption of organic products.
Increase in the number of household head in the family, the greater is the tendency to buy the
organic food. Whereas, customers who are older than the middle aged that are likely to
consume less organic food as compared to middle-aged customers. Environmental concerns
force the people to buy organic products (Yadav, Rambalak, and Pathak, 126).
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that. There is a positive relation between
level of education and income with the consumption of organic food. Introduction of organic
products was a protest to oppose the excessive use of commercialized and industrial farming
and products. United States department of Agricultural regulation has regulated the use of
traditional methods that was removed from the time of industrial revolution. Due to slow
production techniques used by the farmers, the use of pesticides and insecticides was very
less. Industrialisation of agricultural production caused the farmers to follow the use of
alternative ways so that it can grow the crops to protest the industrial movement.

References
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Hempel, Corinna, and Ulrich Hamm. "Local and/or organic: a study on consumer preferences
for organic food and food from different origins." International journal of consumer
studies40.6 (2016): 732-741.
Hwang, Jiyoung. "Organic food as self-presentation: The role of psychological motivation in
older consumers' purchase intention of organic food." Journal of Retailing and
Consumer Services 28 (2016): 281-287.
Juhl, Hans Jørn, Morten HJ Fenger, and John Thøgersen. "Will the consistent organic food
consumer step forward? An empirical analysis." Journal of Consumer Research 44.3
(2017): 519-535.
Lee, Hyun-Joo, and Zee-Sun Yun. "Consumers’ perceptions of organic food attributes and
cognitive and affective attitudes as determinants of their purchase intentions toward
organic food." Food quality and preference 39 (2015): 259-267.
Mie, Axel, et al. "Human health implications of organic food and organic agriculture: a
comprehensive review." Environmental Health 16.1 (2017): 111.
Teng, Chih-Ching, and Yu-Mei Wang. "Decisional factors driving organic food consumption:
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1066-1081.
Yadav, Rambalak, and Govind Swaroop Pathak. "Intention to purchase organic food among
young consumers: Evidences from a developing nation." Appetite 96 (2016): 122-128.