Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
School of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Department of Consumer Science
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The research outputs of the Food and Nutrition Section in the Department of Consumer Science has focused on marketing and consumer-led product development and consumer–focused studies regarding food choice and acceptance in the hospitality, culinary and nutritional fields. The relevance and topicality of the research undertaken regarding the South African consumer addressed local requirements and needs identified by industry and other stakeholders with specific focus on the quality requirements of student food services at the University of Pretoria; customer requirements for food service delivery at conferences specifically organized by CE@UP which culminated in the compilation of a service agreement; and in the hospitality industry where masters students completed research projects reporting on the meal expectations of leisure tourists at Lesedi cultural village; and the dining experiences of young adults in casual dining restaurants in the Hatfield area. Food choice and acceptability studies focused on the black female consumer regarding the utilization of convenience foods and the acceptability, choice and preference of brands and flavors of dairy fruit beverages. The NRF funded project to determine the feasibility of cuisine as a tourism product in the development of Maputaland as a sustainable tourism destination, focused on the importance of the role of the meal experience and the acceptability of the cultural eating experience. Research was also executed in the field of nutrition and food security with specific focus on food-accessing strategies and food-utilization patterns of rural households in Mpumalanga. The results of the outlined research projects listed above, reflecting the food behavior, meal experiences and needs of the South African consumer, justify a continued focus in the hospitality, culinary and nutritional fields.
Contact person: Dr GE du Rand.
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