Browsing by Author "Chen A"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An evaluation of the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Covid-19 Bluetooth Exposure Notification Framework in New Zealand
    (Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Public Health Association of Australia, 2024-11-05) Chambers T; Anglemyer A; Chen A; Atkinson J; Elers P; Baker MG
    Objective: Our primary research objective was to assess the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Bluetooth function of the New Zealand Covid Tracer App (NZCTA) throughout the pandemic. Methods: We adopted a retrospective cohort study design using all diagnosed COVID-19 community cases from December 12, 2020 to February 16, 2022. Results: At its height, more than 60 % of the eligible population had the Bluetooth function of NZCTA activated. However, only an estimated 2.2 % of the population was able to fully participate. Cases managed by the national case investigation service were 17 times (aRR 17.54, 95%CI: 13.02-23.90) and 9 times (aRR 9.27, 95%CI: 6.91, 12.76) more likely to generate a Bluetooth token than cases managed by local public health units during the Delta and Omicron periods, respectively. Conclusions: The Bluetooth functionality of the NZCTA likely had a low impact on the pandemic response in NZ despite its exceptionally high levels of public uptake. The primary reason for the lack of impact was the low utilisation by contact tracers. Implications for public health: The results highlight the need for greater consultation and collaboration with the public health sector during the development and implementation of digital contact tracing tools.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Cross-cultural differences and acculturation in affective response and sensory perception: a case study across Chinese immigrants and local consumers in New Zealand
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2025-01) Dupas de Matos A; Chen A; Maggs R; Godfrey AJR; Weerawarna N R P M; Hort J
    Understanding cross-cultural variation in perception is essential for identifying culture-specific factors impacting product acceptability. While immigrants may initially maintain their preferences, acculturation levels vary. To understand to what extent immigrants can be used as a proxy to model overseas markets, this study investigated short (CHS) and long-term (CHL) Chinese immigrant responses to plain yoghurts compared to New Zealand (NZ) Europeans (E). Three groups (CHS, CHL and NZE, n = 222) evaluated liking of, emotional response to, and sensory perception of 10 plain yoghurts. Groups liked yoghurts similarly. Notably, NZE rated emotions lower than both immigrant groups, with a few exceptions. Both Chinese groups rated most emotions similarly, but CHL rated some closer to NZE. Positive emotions correlated with higher liking scores. However, cross-cultural differences existed for ‘guilty’ which was associated with yoghurts liked by NZE; and for ‘wild’ and ‘mild’ associated with yoghurts disliked by both immigrant groups. Citation proportions for some sensory attributes differed among all groups, dependent on the sample. But level of acculturation between immigrant groups was limited. Sweetness, vanilla, stone fruit and cream flavours, smoothness, and creaminess drove liking across all groups, whereas only the Chinese valued umami, undoubtedly due to positive associations with it. Some effects of acculturation for long-term immigrants were evident, but responses were often closer to their short-term counterparts. Therefore, immigrants in general provide a useful proxy for measuring consumer responses in early stages of product development for this overseas market, but with consideration of their residence time in the host culture.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Evaluating front-of-pack voluntary well-being messaging for milk powders targeting Chinese older adults: A hedonic price model
    (Elsevier Inc and Fass Inc on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association, 2023-12) Chen A; Moradi S; Hort J
    This study examines the price structure of milk powders targeting Chinese older adults, with special emphasis on the assessment of front-of-pack (FOP) voluntary well-being messaging (VWM), using a hedonic price model. Data of 456 sets of product prices and attributes were collected from official stores at online shops, TMALL.com and JD.com, in China. Prices were recorded 10 d before, during, and 10 d after a major online promotion event (November 11, 2021). A hedonic price model was employed to decompose explicit market prices into individual product attributes implicit prices, including essential attributes, such as milk source, brand origin, package material, and nutritional composition, and nonessential attributes conveyed by FOP VWM, regarding nutrition, ingredients, health, sensory qualities, and certification. Results showed that above and beyond essential attributes, nonessential attributes conveyed by FOP VWM were significantly associated with price. Specifically, significant price premiums were associated with dietary fiber claims (+12.7%), no added sugar (+19.0%) and potential health benefits (+19.3%), as nutrition-, ingredient-, and health-related FOP VWM respectively. However, nutrition claims regarding calcium and fat were negatively associated with price (-21.2% and -8.0%, respectively, when they were presented). Additionally, nutrition claims for protein and vitamin D, introducing farm environment, referring to imported ingredients, declaring specific ingredients added, describing sensory characterizes and providing certificates on FOP were not significantly associated with price in this market. These findings provide manufacturers with information to better differentiate their products by producing and advertising attributes most valued by consumers.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Older Chinese adults' milk consumption habits: A study across 5 cities
    (Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association, 2024-06) Chen A; Moradi S; Huang J; Xu S; Sismey M; Hort J
    Milk consumption in China has experienced a rapid growth over the past few decades. This study explored milk consumption habits of older Chinese adult regular milk consumers, by investigating what, where, when, with whom, why, and how milk was consumed. This study (n = 1,000) was conducted in 5 cities in China (first tier: Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou; second tier: Chengdu and Shenyang) with participants balanced by sex and age groups (45-55 and 65-75 yr old). Given different economies, general dietary habits, and lifestyles, differences in milk consumption habits between cities were hypothesized. The results showed that almost all participants consumed cow milk, at home and by direct drinking. Most participants consumed milk during breakfast, with their family and for nutrition and health purposes. However, variations by city were found in what type of, what fat level of, what brand of, when and how milk was consumed. Multiple factor analysis showed that "what" variable differentiated cities between tiers and among the first-tier cities, and that "when" and "how" variables also separated the 2 second-tier cities and from the first-tier cities. Although variation in how milk was consumed was also observed between sexes and age groups, hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the 4 clusters of milk consumption habits derived were mainly differentiated by city: Beijing and Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shenyang. This study provides comprehensive insights into the milk consumption habits of older Chinese adults and highlights the significant heterogeneity in milk consumption habits in China by city.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    On-the-Pack Voluntary Well-Being Messaging for Milks Targeting Chinese Older Adults: A Content Analysis
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-08) Chen A; Moradi S; Hort J; Byrne DV
    China is experiencing severe population aging. Given that milks targeting older adults are one of the most popular foods designed for Chinese older adults (COA), this study investigated on-the-pack (OTP) voluntary well-being messaging (VWM, ways of communicating a product's broad well-being benefits through information on food content or statements linked to favourable components, functions, or well-being outcomes) for milk targeting COA. Over 200 products identified from two sources (JD.com and Mintel's global new products database), were analysed for type, content, and VWM frequency for different brand origins and milk sources of various animal species, nutrition claim regulation compliance and alignment with nutrition facts. The results suggested: (1) different brand origins (domestic vs. international) and milk source (cow vs. goat) highlighted different well-being aspects of products, (2) three products failed to comply with government regulations made for nutrition labelling of pre-packed foods (GB 28050-2011), but (3) excepting fat, all 'contains' claims and most 'high' claims did not reflect significantly greater levels of nutrients, compared to products with no claims. The findings create a comprehensive picture of OTP VWM for milks targeting older adults in China, providing useful information for consumer, domestic, and international dairy industries, and policymakers.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Perception and acceptance of high seaweed content novel foods (Ulva spp. and Undaria pinnatifida) across New Zealand and Singaporean consumers
    (Elsevier BV, amsterdam, 2024-12) Chen A; Lim AJ; Lin JWX; Oh G; Teo PS; Bowie D; Deb-Choudhury S; Samuelsson LM; Chan JCY; Ng SB; Foster M; Giezenaar C; Hort J
    Edible seaweeds are gaining global popularity as nutritious and sustainable food sources, extending beyond Asian into Western diets. To investigate consumer perception and acceptance of high seaweed content foods, two novel products, seaweed dumplings and pasta, were developed using the mixture of Ulva spp. and Undaria pinnatifida as a primary ingredient. Consumer evaluations were conducted in New Zealand (NZ, n = 157) and Singapore (SG, n = 176). Results showed low overall liking and willingness to purchase for both products in each country, though NZ consumers rated them more positively in terms of liking, healthiness and sustainability than SG consumers. Willingness to purchase was positively correlated with ratings of liking, healthiness, and sustainability. Emotional responses differed by country and product, with more NZ participants reporting positive emotions (e.g., pleased, happy, hopeful and loving) and dumplings evoking more activate emotions (e.g., energetic, shocked and amazed). Umami taste enhanced overall liking in both countries, while slimy texture (NZ) and fish-like flavour (SG) decreased overall liking. These results underscore the current challenges in consumer acceptance of high seaweed content novel foods, but also highlight cross-cultural differences that can guide the development of seaweed-based foods in global markets.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Product Factors Affecting Milk Choices among Chinese Older Adults
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2024-01-23) Chen A; Moradi S; Hort J
    In China, milk is promoted both as an optimal food and gift for older adults. To understand the product factors affecting older Chinese adult milk choices, choice simulations and surveys were conducted in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shenyang, China. Participants (n = 1000, aged 45-55 years old and 65-75 years old) were asked to choose one milk product out of eight alternatives for self-consumption and gifting, respectively, and to indicate product factors under their considerations. Results showed that, for self-consumption, the top four most popular milk products (two with domestic brands and two with international brands) were chosen by 84.9% of the participants. Females and younger participants were more open to international brands than their counterparts. Popular milk products differed across cities, potentially due to brand familiarity. Brand (85.9%), on-the-pack, nutrition-related well-being messaging (72.9%), price (63.1%), shelf-life (63.0%), and production date (57.6%) were the most frequently reported product factors considered when choosing milk. More males considered price than females (66.9% vs. 60.0%, p = 0.02). Female and older participants showed greater concern for certain detailed product factors, such as production date and shelf-life, than their counterparts. Variation across cities was limited, with participants in Chengdu and Shenyang showing less concern for certain product factors such as on-the-pack, certificate-related well-being messaging. When milk products were chosen as a gift, although overall milk choice ranking remained similar, package style received increased attention (32.0% vs. 40.8%, p < 0.01), whilst all other product factors, especially price (63.1% vs. 49.5%, p < 0.01), were considered by significantly fewer participants. These findings provide valuable marketing insights, helping to understand consumer preferences and considerations in the process of milk purchase decision-making.