Maija Paakki

Mrs. Maija Paakki


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

12Years (2015-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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21 December 2015 in Journal of Sensory Studies
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Journal Article
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MPMaija Paakki
Maija Paakki
Mari Anneli SandellMari Anneli Sandell
Mari Anneli Sandell
AHAnu Hopia
Anu Hopia

9 October 2022 in Foods
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Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MPMaija Paakki
Maija Paakki
MKMaija Kantola
Maija Kantola
TJTerhi Aulikki Junkkari
Terhi Aulikki Junkkari
LALeena Arjanne
Leena Arjanne
HLHarri Luomala
Harri Luomala
AHAnu Hopia
Anu Hopia
Consumers having a strong unhealthy = tasty (UT) belief are less likely to choose healthy food even though they recognize its health benefits, because they assume healthy food to be unpalatable. The aim of this study was to profile consumers according to their UT belief and specify the strength of the belief among a demographically representative consumer group. The other aim was to investigate the effect of UT belief on expectations of two food products representing either an unhealthy or a healthy image. A total of 1537 consumers participated in the online survey. The scale-based (1–7) mean for UT belief was 3.27 and related positively to male gender and food pleasure orientation and negatively to general health interest. The results indicate that a strong UT belief correlates with positive expectations of unhealthy food and with negative expectations of healthy food. UT belief seemed to increase expected food-associated guilt, but other strong food-related attitudes (health interest with unhealthy food and pleasure orientation with healthy food) reduced this effect. In practice, understanding the relationship between UT belief and personal factors and attitudes, and the importance of this belief to food expectations can assist in finding the tools to encourage consumers towards healthier food choices.