PERCEPTION OF CONSUMERS FOR SOYBEANS AND ITS DERIVATIVES IN JÚLIO DE CASTILHOS, BRAZIL

Abstract

Since 2003, Brazil ranks second in soybean production and the derivatives constitute an expressive economic contribution for the country. Consumers´ movements for healthier food in quality and nutrition aspects triggered the industries to develop a greater variety of products. Soybean is actually a high nutrition food source. Current analysis evaluates the perception of consumers on soybean derivatives and aims at an in-depth knowledge and acceptance of derived food. Results reveal that most people in the sample have already consumed the food even though current group is formed by a lower number of consumers. The nutritional and functional properties of soybeans for human health are not known by most interviewed people and this fact may have been the cause of low consumption and lack of interest of the population in the introduction of soybean derivatives in daily menus.