Factors which impact on Food product development Flashcards
What are the external factors that impact food product development
economic, political, ecological and technological environment often affect food product development.
What are the external factors
Macro-environment are generally outside the manufacturer’s control and must be considered in proper decision-making processes.
The economic environment
A great new food product idea may work well when consumers have a high income level and the economic outlook is prosperous, but the idea may fail in tougher economic times
What are the economic factors that may affect food production
- inflation rates
- interest rates
- exchange rates – affect the cost of imports and returns on exports
- tax rates
- import and export tariffs
- wage agreements and salary levels
- level of unemployment
- natural disasters
The political environment
Australian manufacturers, producers and distributors of food are all subject to regulations made by federal, state and local governments.
At the federal level, the most prominent regulatory body is
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
In NSW, what regulation is more direct at the state government level
NSW Food Authority
Role of local government
deals specifically with local issues relating to foods, such as zoning laws, planning permits and health inspection matters.
Ecological Environment
The ecological environment includes the air we breathe, the food we eat, our waterways, biodiversity in both plant and animal species, and the land itself.
What is the concern with the ecology
issues such as pollution, land degradation, inadequate waste disposal and conservation of natural resources.
What affect does ecological concerns have on consumers
Affect consumer attitudes to such things as recycling, biodegradability of packaging, pollution of the atmosphere and waterways, use of pesticides and waste disposal.
What have companies implemented as a result of consumer concerns
the use of biodegradable and recyclable packaging, better air pollution control, environmentally friendly processing and transport for their products, and more efficient energy use and waste disposal in their processing operations.
How has the Technological environment affected the development of new food products.
extrusion techniques
ultra-high temperature (UHT) processes
new packaging technology such as modified atmosphere
computer control in food processing
automated equipment
improved distribution systems
genetic engineering (genetically modified materials are probably the most controversial of new food ingredients).
food additives
How does developments arise
Research and Development
Internal Factors
Micro-environment and are mostly within the manufacturer’s control
