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Abstract. This study examined consumers' attitude and knowledge related to consumption of cultured oysters and mussels in Western Visayas, Philippines. Survey interviews were conducted using a validated questionnaire consisting of consumption pattern, purchasing behavior, product information and environmental concerns. We hypothesized that the level of consumption is influenced by demographic and socio-economic factors. Only 32% were frequent (daily to more than once a week) consumers of oysters and mussels during peak season. The main factors that dictate frequency of purchase and consumption are gender, household size and those who indicated to have been to the culture sites. Males and those who have been to the culture sites were more likely to be frequent buyers and consumers. The likelihood of oyster purchases was 1.23 times more with increasing household size and females were most likely to try new oyster products. More educated consumers would refrain from eating large quantities of oyster and mussel which may be related to health concerns. Consumption decisions tended to concentrate more on product freshness and size rather than price. Product origin is less important for consumers in Western Visayas, although there are indications that awareness and concern about seafood safety is becoming an issue especially for the more educated consumers. The issues of production site environment, product quality and food safety have to be addressed to strengthen consumer confidence. Key Words: molluscs, seafood consumption, aquaculture, preference.
Introduction. The increasing demand for seafood has opened opportunities for the aquaculture sector to expand both globally and in the Philippines. In 2010, aquaculture accounted for 41.3% of global fish food supply, and in terms of quantity, eight of the top ten producing countries were in Asia, with China leading at 36.7 million tons (FAO 2012). Recent years have shown an increased demand for seafood at the consumer level, resulting in higher seafood prices (Trondsen et al 2004a), increased choice and development of new product types (Myrland et al 2000; Arvanitoyannis et al 2004) as well as improved product-quality assurance. In 2010, per capita fish consumption in the world reached an all-time high of 17 kg, an increase of almost 14% from 1990s (FAO 2010).
In the Philippines, the aquaculture industry has also grown steadily, reaching over 744,695 metric tons in 2010 (excluding aquatic...