Consumer perceptions of processed bean products: Insights from the precooked beans project in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

There have been various efforts to develop a range of precooked bean products including quick-cooking beans, bean flour, ready-to-eat bean snack bars, bean noodles, and bean chunks in a bid to address consumers’ need for quick-cooking beans. However, there is lack of information on consumer perceptions and attitudes towards such processed bean products that have been introduced on the market. Using a sample of 36 consumers out of the 60 respondents who consented to consuming processed bean products in a nutrition survey, the study examined the level of consumer perceptions of processed bean products in Kenya. A MANOVA and multivariate regression were applied to examine the consumer’s perceptions of various processed bean attributes including food safety, proper packaging, ease of serving, energy-saving, time-saving, fair pricing, and nutrition. Results revealed that baked and canned beans were considered more energy-saving and time-saving but were perceived as non-nutritious and less safe. Bean flours were perceived as cheap but not well packaged or energy-saving. Processed bean products sold at the retail shops were relatively cheap (34% less) compared to those from supermarkets. Factors such as place of purchase: retail shops, imported; and main consumer: notably men only explain 54.79% of the variances in prices for processed bean products. As the consumption landscape of processed bean products evolves, these findings serve as a valuable foundation for informed industry-level interventions aimed at promoting the consumption of locally produced, nutritious, and safe bean products.